Callista has 10+ years of experience in spermatogenesis and novel stem cell based fertility treatments, with a focus on Spermatogonial Stem Cells (SSCs) and the testicular somatic niche. She is actively involved in establishing hiPSC derived male gonadal somatic niche to support hiPSC germ cell development. Callista’s main research focus over the past 5 years has been the preclinical development of fertility preservation and restoration therapies for those who do not produce sperm and cannot have a biologically own child otherwise, including (childhood) cancer survivors, patients with benign hematological disorders, transwomen and intersex individuals. She focusses on stem cell-based fertility treatments, specifically centered around SSCs, the cells that have the capacity to develop into sperm upon puberty. She was the first to investigate the long-term health for both recipients and offspring of SSC transplantation in a mouse model. In addition, she took part in a project showing that testicular organ cultures of different mouse strains have a diverse differentiation potential. Callista contributed to a large cohort study that proved the presence of spermatogonia in a majority of transwomen, thereby opening up new fertility preservation strategies for them. She is currently investigating the circadian rhythm in sperm formation, funded through a personal ZonMW Off Road grant. Moreover, Callista is BKO certified, coordinates master education on reproductive biology and medicine at the University of Amsterdam, and teaches BSc students at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. She supervises many BSc and MSc students and is currently co-promotor of 4 PhD students.
Relevant publications
• Sanou, I. Van Maaren, J. Eliveld, J. Lei, Q. Meißner, A. De Melker, A.A. Hamer, G. Van Pelt, A.M.M. Mulder, C.L. Spermatogonial stem cell-based therapies: taking preclinical research to the next level. Frontiers in Endocrinology. 04 April 2022 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fendo.2022.850219
• De Nie, I. Mulder, C.L. Meissner, A. Schut, Y. Holleman, E.M. Van der Sluis, W.B. Hannema, S.E. Den Heijer, M. Huirne, J. Van Pelt, A.M.M. Van Mello, N.M. Histological study on the influence of puberty suppression and hormonal treatment on developing germ cells in transgender women. Human Reproduction 37 (2), February 2022, Pages 297–30,
• Serrano, J.B. van Eekelen, R. De Winter-Korver, C.M. Van Daalen, S.K.M. Tabeling, N.C. Catsburg, L.A.E., Gijbels, M.J.J. Mulder, C.L. Van Pelt, A.M.M. Impact of restoring male fertility with transplantation of in vitro propagated spermatogonial stem cells on the health of their offspring throughout life. Clinical and Translational Medicine. 2021 Oct;11(10):e531.
• Portela, J.M. Mulder, C.L. Van Daalen, S.K.M. De Winter-Korver, C.M. Stukenborg, J-B. Repping, S. Van Pelt, A.M.M. Strains matter: success of murine in vitro spermatogenesis is dependent on genetic background. Developmental Biology. 2019 Dec 456;1:-25-30
• Mulder, C.L. Eijkenboom, L.L. Beerendonk, C.C.M. Braat, D.D.M. Peek, R. Enhancing the safety of ovarian cortex autotransplantation: cancer cells are purged completely from human ovarian tissue fragments by pharmacological inhibition of YAP/TAZ oncoproteins. Human Reproduction 2019 Mar 1;34(3):506-518.
• Mulder, C.L. Catsburg, L.A.E. Zheng, Y. De Winter-Korver, C.M. Van Daalen, S.K.M. Van Wely, M. Pals, S. Repping, S Van Pelt, A.M.M. Long-term health in recipients of transplanted in vitro propagated spermatogonial stem cells. Human Reproduction. 2018;33:81–90