ERC Starting Grant for Stephanie Möllmert

Stephanie Möllmert, independent research group leader at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, has been awarded a Starting Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). In the funded project REPROMECH, she plans to investigate the physical and mechanical conditions in the fallopian tube and their significance for the transport of eggs and early embryos.

• REPROMECH brings together physics and the life sciences. Methodologically, the project combines quantitative mechanical measurements and imaging with long-term ex vivo culture of the oviduct.
• In the long term, the project aims to contribute to understanding the mechanisms in the healthy fallopian tube as well as changes in the fallopian tube due to aging or disease.
• The grant amounts to 1,5 million euros. The five-year funding period begins on January 1, 2027.

“I am very pleased to have received the ERC Starting Grant because it allows me to pursue the question that drives me most scientifically: how does hormonal and cellular regulation translate into functional mechanics?” says Stephanie Möllmert. “In the oviduct, muscle activity, tissue properties and fluid flows must work together in a coordinated way to ensure the reliable transport of oocytes and early embryos. I want to understand which physical parameters govern this process and within what ranges they need to operate for normal physiological function to be possible.”

Understanding Forces and Mechanics in the Fallopian Tube

Stephanie Möllmert’s REPROMECH project addresses this question by quantitatively characterizing the oviduct as a mechanically active organ. The project examines, among other factors, muscle activity, tissue composition and deformability, as well as fluid flow. By analyzing how these elements interact, REPROMECH aims to define the mechanical operating range within which the oviduct can fulfil its physiological function.

Biophysics and Reproductive Biology Intertwine

In her research, Stephanie Möllmert will combine methods from physics and the life sciences, including quantitative mechanical measurements, different imaging approaches, and experimental models of living cells and tissues. These approaches will allow her to determine the mechanical parameters of the oviduct and relate them to its function. A further focus will be on how these mechanical states change with age.

“Pushing scientific boundaries”

ERC Starting Grants are intended to enable young top researchers to establish their own independent research groups or research programs in Europe, thereby supporting them on their path to scientific independence. ERC President Maria Leptin said: “The creativity and ambition of this new generation of grantees are inspiring. Over 50 nationalities are represented amongst these researchers who will carry out their work across Europe. ERC Starting Grants will give them independence and support early on in their careers, needed for them to push scientific boundaries. This is the best investment we can make to further strengthen our research base and Europe’s future.”

About the ERC

The ERC, set up by the European Union in 2007, is the premier European funding organization for excellent frontier research. It funds creative researchers of any nationality and age, to run projects based across Europe. The ERC offers four core grant schemes: Starting Grants, Consolidator Grants, Advanced Grants and Synergy Grants. With its additional Proof of Concept Grant scheme, the ERC helps grantees to bridge the gap between their pioneering research and early phases of its commercialization. The new ERC Plus Grants scheme is open for applications since June 2026. The ERC is led by an independent governing body, the Scientific Council. Maria Leptin has been the President of the ERC since November 2021. The overall ERC budget from 2021 to 2027 is more than €16 billion, as part of the Horizon Europe programme, which is under the responsibility of Ekaterina Zaharieva, European Commissioner for Startups, Research and Innovation.