Maria Pilar Coy Fuster

Maria Pilar Coy Fuster is a Full Professor at the University of Murcia, affiliated with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and the Department of Physiology. Her research focuses on reproductive physiology, in vitro fertilization (IVF), oviductal mechanisms, epigenetics, and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in mammals, particularly pigs and cattle.

• Education:
  • Degree in Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia (1987)
  • PhD in Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia (1991)
  • Diplomate in Animal Reproduction, European College of Animal Reproduction (2001)

Research Interests encompass understanding oviductal glycoproteins like OVGP1 that regulate polyspermy, genomic and proteomic analysis of reproductive fluids, epigenetic impacts of ART, and developing biobanks for reproductive biofluids. She co-discovered a conserved oviductal mechanism in ungulates (absent in humans) that enhances IVF efficiency, leading to a PNAS publication and a patent.

Scientific Awards include:

• Mention of Quality by the Spanish Ministry of Education
• Mention of Excellence by the Spanish Ministry of Education

She has secured substantial funding, including a €3.8 million European Horizon 2020 grant for the Rep-Biotech Marie Sklodowska-Curie program, producing 15 international PhDs. Currently, she leads the AFRODITA network.

Teaching Contributions include designing the internationally recognized Master and PhD programs in Reproductive Biology and Technology at the University of Murcia. She plays a leadership role as an Associate Editor for journals like Molecular Reproduction and Development and Molecular Human Reproduction.