Dr. Daniel Marcu

Co-Founder, Virilitas Labs – Rapid Diagnostics for Male Fertility

United Kingdom

About

Dr. Daniel Marcu is a multi-award-winning PhD scientist, entrepreneur, and thought leader on a mission to use technology to put men in control of their reproductive health. He earned his MSc in Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine from University College London, where he worked with Dr Helen O’Neill and Dr James Turner on applying genome editing to generate sperm from infertile individuals. He completed his PhD in Sperm Biology and Genomics at the University of East Anglia under Professor Simone Immler, where his research leveraged genomics, transcriptomics, and proteomics to improve sperm selection and fertility outcomes. He is also a Lecturer at University College London’s Institute for Women’s Health and a Senior Research Associate at the University of East Anglia, where his work bridges reproductive biology and translational innovation. Daniel served as President of the Network for Young Researchers in Andrology and is a member of the European Academy of Andrology, helping to shape the future of male reproductive health. His research and advocacy have earned recognition across academia and industry, including Innovation and Public Engagement awards, the Beverly Tucker Award for contributions to male reproductive health, and being named one of the UK’s top Tech Innovators by KPMG in 2024. Building on his scientific expertise, Daniel co-founded Virilitas Labs with Professor Simone Immler, a health-tech company developing rapid diagnostics for male fertility. With a multidisciplinary team spanning molecular biology, clinical andrology, hardware design, and digital platforms, Virilitas is reimagining male reproductive care, aiming to cut years off the diagnostic journey and empower men with timely, actionable insights in an underserved, high-growth market.

Experience

  • Co-Founder at Virilitas Labs
    Mar 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Building on 20+ years of academic expertise in sperm biology, we are leveraging lateral flow assays and cloud based AI diagnostics to deliver rapid and accessible diagnostics & care at the point-of-need.

  • Lecturer in Reproductive Health (Honorary) at UCL
    Feb 2025 - Present · 1 yr 6 mos

  • Senior Research Associate in Sperm Biology (Visiting) at University of East Anglia
    Jan 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 7 mos

  • Network for Young Researchers in Andrology (5 yrs 9 mos)
    • President
      Sep 2024 - Jan 2026 · 1 yr 5 mos

    • Treasurer
      May 2020 - Sep 2024 · 4 yrs 5 mos

  • Senior Researcher in Andrology & Toxicology (Visiting) at University of the Western Cape
    Jan 2022 - Mar 2025 · 3 yrs 3 mos