Martin Matzuk, MD, PhD, and David Lonard, PhD, along with their respective laboratory teams are working towards a potential “off-switch” for sperm that can be delivered via an oral contraceptive. Dr. Matzuk’s lab is focused on the process of spermatogenesis, while Dr. Lonard’s team is observing the reaction between small molecule inhibitors and steroid receptor coactivators in an attempt to produce a non-hormonal male contraceptive.

The research led by the two teams have uncovered 30 genes that are thought to be active in the testes. Moving forward, the teams are testing those genes against more than 2 billion chemical compounds in order to develop a fast-acting and easily-metabolized form of male birth control. Click here to read more from the Baylor College of Medicine‘s Research Portal.