Aiming to transform fertility treatment by shifting focus to a long-overlooked part of the human body—the ovaries—a biotechnology start-up is exploring what many scientists now believe may hold crucial clues to aging and women’s overall health.
Dina Radenkovic, the founder of the U.S.-based biotech company Gameto, is also a physician-scientist leading this innovative effort. A new approach to in vitro fertilization (IVF), which could significantly reduce the emotional and physical burden of the procedure, has been developed. The company’s work, highlighted in a recent report by The Washington Post, reflects a broader shift in how women’s health is understood—an area long considered underfunded and under-researched.
Traditionally, IVF requires women to undergo around two weeks of hormone injections to stimulate the ovaries to produce mature eggs. However, Gameto’s experimental treatment, known as “Fertilo,” aims to shorten and simplify this process. It does so by maturing eggs outside the body using lab-grown ovarian support cells.
By recreating the ovary’s natural environment in a laboratory setting, the technology allows immature eggs to develop without the need for intensive hormonal stimulation. Early results suggest that this method could reduce the number of injections required and make the overall experience less physically and emotionally taxing for patients.
The company’s approach is built on advances in stem cell science and has already shown promising outcomes. According to various sources, the technique has resulted in a number of successful births, offering hope that it could become a safer and more patient-friendly alternative to traditional IVF methods.
Gameto’s research extends beyond fertility. It also explores the role of the ovaries in the aging process. Scientists increasingly believe that ovarian function is closely linked to broader aspects of women’s long-term health, including hormonal balance and conditions associated with menopause.
This idea has led to the development of additional experimental therapies, such as potential hormonal support implants aimed at improving health outcomes for menopausal women. While these innovations are still in the early stages of testing, they highlight growing interest in understanding how reproductive biology influences overall aging.
Radenkovic, who studied medicine and physiology at University College London and has conducted research at leading institutions, has gained international recognition, including being named to Forbes 30 Under 30. She is widely regarded as a rising leader in women’s health innovation.
Gameto has also attracted significant investment from Silicon Valley backers, reflecting a broader trend of increasing funding in women’s health technologies—an area historically overlooked despite its vast potential.
If successful, the company’s innovations could represent the first major advancement in IVF treatment in more than two decades. By making fertility treatments less invasive, more accessible, and potentially more effective, such technologies could reshape the reproductive landscape for millions of women worldwide.
More broadly, this research underscores a shift in scientific thinking—from treating fertility as an isolated issue to viewing it as part of a larger system connected to aging and overall health. As studies continue, the ovaries may emerge not only as central to reproduction but also as a key factor in understanding how the human body ages.
