Dr Liza O’Donnell is a senior research scientist with a long standing career in studying the biology of the testis, including how it produces both sperm and androgens. Her work has focussed on the regulation of sperm production (spermatogenesis) by androgens and estrogens, the development of hormone-based male contraceptives, the role of cell adhesion proteins in spermatogenesis, cytoskeletal proteins important for sperm production, transgenic models of infertility, the regulation of foetal testis development, the process of spermiation (sperm release), the identification of genes and proteins essential for spermatogenesis, the mechanisms by which cells in the testis communicate and the development of biomarkers to diagnose testis function. Liza's research is relevant to the design of new male contraceptives, understanding the causes of male infertility and hormone disorders, and to the development of diagnostics to monitor male fertility and testis function.