Course Developmental origins of health and disease

Page reviewed:  06/02/2026

  • Date: 2025-12-01–05 
  • Location: Evolutionary Biology Centre (EBC), Uppsala University.

Description

The aims of the course was to provide a broad knowledge of reproductive development and reproductive toxicity in vertebrates and to help build a base for collaboration among researchers in different fields of reproductive biology. The course combined theory and practical exercises to understand how early-life environmental exposures can influence reproduction, emphasizing hormones, epigenetics, sexual differentiation, and the placenta. It included lectures, group work, and participant presentations, giving students the opportunity to directly apply knowledge to research questions. Attendance at the CRU / SWACCS networking symposium on 2025-12-04 was part of the course.

Programme

Lecture: Each lecture involves a section where the teacher answers questions 
Group work: PBL on defined task to be presented on the last day of the course. 

December 1

  • 09.00-09.45 Introduction - Barker hypothesis, Maria Jönsson, UU
  • 09.45-10.30 Sexual determination and differentiation in fish, birds and mammals 1: Amir Fallahshahroudi, UU
  • 10.30-11.00 Break
  • 11.00-12.00 Sexual determination and differentiation in fish, birds and mammals 2: Amir Fallahshahroudi, UU
  • 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
  • 13.00-17.00 Start-up group work

 December 2 

  • 09.00-10.00 Sex hormones, feedback loops: Jan-Bernd Stukenborg, UU
  • 10.00-10.30 Break
  • 10.30-12.00 Development of sex organs in males and females (puberty??). Jan-Bernd Stukenborg, UU 
  • 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
  • 13.00-15.00 Epigenetics of sexual differentiation: Carlos Guerrero Bosagna, UU
  • 15.00-17.00 Group work

December 3 

  • 09.00-10.30 Evolution of sexual dimorphism. Elina Immonen, UU
  • 10.30-11.00 Break 
  • 11. 00-12.00 Presentations of own research by course participants 
  • 12.00-13.00 Lunch break
  • 13.00-15.00 Presentations of own research by course participants
  • 15.00-17.00 Group work

December 4 

  • 09.00-17.00 CRU networking symposium on environmental pollution and male reproduction. Talks by invited early-career and senier national and international speakers. Poster mingling.

December 5 

  • 09.00-12.00 Preparation for group work presentations 
  • 12.00-13.00 Lunch 
  • 13.00-14.15 Examination: Presentations of group work
  • 14.15-14.45 Fika
  • 14.45-16.00 Examination: Presentations of group work