Ghent University Hospital joins first consortium on human reproduction in space
Ghent University Hospital (UGent) is taking part in the first-ever consortium dedicated to human reproduction in space. The initiative, organised by SpaceBorn United, was announced on Tuesday and confirmed to Belga by the hospital.
The Space Reproduction Roadmap Consortium will be held from 26 to 28 September in Amsterdam, where experts will address the question: Can humans reproduce safely beyond Earth? Leading specialists in fertility research, space biology and technology, bioethics, geopolitics and law will convene during the three-day meeting.
Kelly Tilleman, a researcher at UGent, will contribute with insights on the development and application of advanced reproductive technologies as part of the reproductive medicine research group.
"Permanent habitation beyond Earth is only possible if we can safely conceive and raise children in space."
As space travel continues to progress, SpaceBorn United highlights the importance of looking further ahead. "Without the possibility of reproduction, human presence in space will always be temporary," says Dr Egbert Edelbroek, the founder & CEO of SpaceBorn United. "Permanent habitation beyond Earth is only possible if we can safely conceive and raise children in space."
© VIDEO SPACEBORN UNITED
Conception, pregnancy and childbirth beyond Earth present formidable challenges. Lower gravity and weightlessness can disrupt key bodily processes, while radiation and disturbances to the circadian rhythm add further risks. "We know almost nothing about the impact on reproductive organs, embryonic development or childbirth," SpaceBorn United notes.
The research could also yield benefits closer to home. Studying reproduction under extreme conditions may lead to improved treatments for fertility problems and higher success rates for IVF procedures. Space research has previously driven advances in agriculture, medicine, and technology —fields that could again benefit from findings in this new frontier.
#FlandersNewsService |ARTIS (Assisted Reproductive Technology In Space) minilab prototype in orbit-a fully automated IVF minilab designed to support conception and early embryonic development in micro- and partial gravity. A collaboration between SpaceBorn United and Asgardia. 2025. © PHOTO ASGARDIA AND SPACEBORN UNITED
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