Members of the Duncan Lab were thrilled to present their research at the 57th Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction! We enjoyed sharing our work with the broader scientific community, and connecting with colleagues and friends.
NU Duncan Lab
@nuduncanlab.bsky.social
The Duncan Lab uses mammalian model systems to investigate what underlies the age-associated decline in female gamete quantity and quality. Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Vote for "Ovarian Borderland!" Dr. Aubrey Converse has a piece in the SSR 2026 ReproBioArt Award contest. Vote for "Ovarian Borderland!" and support the Duncan Lab! woobox.com/hxah43
Vote for the ReproBioArt 2026 SSR Award
woobox.com
Check out the Duncan Lab at SSR! Members of our lab are presenting at the upcoming @ssrepro.bsky.social Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, held July 19-22. We hope to see you there!
Check out this article featuring the Duncan Lab's recent publication on the post-reproductive ovary shifting from a reproductive to an immune-like organ! www.newscientist.com/article/2533...
Ovary identity shift after menopause may contribute to inflammation
We used to think post-menopausal ovaries sat inert in the body, but evidence from mice suggests they may instead turn into an organ with a role in inflammation
newscientist.com
New Duncan Lab Publication! Congratulations to Dr. Jeff Pea and co-authors for their amazing tour de force - a drug discovery screen of 818 bioactive compounds to identify positive hits that block meiotic progression in mouse oocytes! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42359270/
A phenotypic in vitro assay of mouse oocyte maturation identifies reversible blockers of meiotic progression for non-hormonal contraceptive discovery - PubMed
This work was supported by the Gates Foundation [INV-003385]. Under the grant conditions of the Foundation, a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 Generic License has already been assigned to the Author A...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
For @science.org, I reported on fascinating research from @nuduncanlab.bsky.social that has found that the ovaries undergo a surprising transformation after menopause. www.science.org/content/arti...
After menopause, ovaries may transform into organs with immune powers
Mouse and human data suggest ovaries develop a new function after reproductive duties end
science.org
Exciting coverage of our recent publication, "The post-reproductive ovary shifts from a reproductive to an immune-like organ." Congratulations to Dr. Aubrey Converse and team! www.science.org/content/arti...
After menopause, ovaries may transform into organs with immune powers
Mouse and human data suggest ovaries develop a new function after reproductive duties end
science.org
Congratulations to Dr. Aubrey Converse and team for our latest Duncan Lab publication on the post-reproductive ovary which was selected as Editor's Choice in Molecular Human Reproduction! @mhr-reprodsci.bsky.social pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42271623/
The post-reproductive ovary shifts from a reproductive to an immune-like organ - PubMed
Reproductive aging in females is characterized by the irreversible depletion of ovarian follicles, yet the structure and function of the post-reproductive ovary remain poorly defined. Using paired his...
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Major Milestone Achieved! Congratulations to our newest MS-RSM cohort in the lab who have all successfully passed their thesis proposal defenses!
A new Duncan Lab publication authored by Dr. Shweta Dipali when she was a graduate student in the lab! This is a comprehensive chapter in Current Topics in Developmental Biology on the role of the ovarian stroma across the reproductive lifespan. Check it out: pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42236057/
Dr. Duncan and collaborator Dr. Doug Vaughan recently participated in a City Club of Chicago panel on healthspan, the future of longevity, and Illinois’s position in this important field. Learn more: ibio.org/healthspan-i...
On May 26-29, Dylan Hakken and Dr. Hannes Campo traveled to The Microphysiological Systems (MPS) World Summit in Washington DC. Dylan presented a poster entitled "Development of a Vascularized Microphysiological System Compatible with Complex 3D Cultures."
Dr. Duncan had the amazing opportunity to meet Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and discuss with her and colleagues Dr. Doug Vaughan, Dr. Kara Goldman, Dr. Lisa Dhar, and Jennifer Kunde the importance of healthy aging among all to our overall quality of life, well being, economy, and state!
Save the date for the 2026 Reproductive Aging - PSRM Satellite Joint Conference! July 16-17, 2027, CHA Bio Complex, Korea This event is co-organized by Dr. Francesca Elizabeth Duncan. Registration link coming soon!
Members of the Duncan Lab presented at the 2026 Pacific Coast Reproductive Society Meeting in Palm Springs, CA on March 18-22, 2026. Visit our lab website to learn more about their presentations! labs.feinberg.northwestern.edu/duncan/news/...
Congratulations to Anna Heinrich on receiving an F31 grant from the NICHD for her project "The requirement and function of metabolic activity in cumulus cells during late stages of ovulation." We are so proud of Anna for this well-deserved accomplishment!
Dr. Francesca Duncan and Dr. Elnur Babayev have published a Perspectives article in Science on "The ovarian stroma as a therapeutic target." Check it out! www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
The ovarian stroma as a therapeutic target
A drug with antifibrotic properties may improve fertility
science.org
Congratulations to the newly minted Reva Marwah, MS, and Tania Castro Modesto, MS on expertly defending their theses projects! We look forward to watching their career trajectories soar!
@mhr-reprodsci.bsky.social is seeking an Associate Editor for Social Media and Engagement! This position is open to senior graduate students (MS or PhD levels), post-doctoral fellows, early career scientists Apply by March 1
Congrats to Anna Heinrich on receiving 1st place in the 2026 International Embryo Transfer Society graduate student competition! Anna presented her work on "Advanced reproductive age is associated with changes in ovarian architecture in the South African cheetah" at the IETS meeting in Panama.
CRS Co-Director Dr. Francesca Duncan, and CRS faculty members Dr. Kara Goldman and Dr. Monica Laronda were featured in this New York Times article! Check it out! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/27/h...
It’s Time to Give the Ovary Some More Respect
nytimes.com
Congratulations to Prianka Hashim on her induction into the Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society! This society pays homage to Dr. Edward A. Bouchet, the first African American doctoral recipient in the US, by recognizing outstanding scholarly achievement in doctoral education.
A new Duncan Lab publication! Congratulations to Dr. Hannes Campo, Prianka Hashim, and Dr. Emily Zaniker-Gomez for turning their micromold technology for culturing follicles into a methods paper in JoVE to make sure this technique is more broadly accessible! pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41212809/
Production and Use of Customizable Agarose Molds for Scaffold-Free Mouse Ovarian Follicle Culture - PubMed
The ovarian follicle is the functional unit of the ovary that produces hormones and gametes needed to sustain female reproductive function and health. The ability to recapitulate folliculogenesis, ovulation, and luteinization in vitro has broad basic, translational, and clinical utility. The most ad …
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Happy New Year from the Duncan and Babayev Labs! We are looking forward to a terrific 2026!
Dr. Duncan was interviewed for this article on fertility in the New York Times! Check it out! www.nytimes.com/2025/12/02/w...
Does the ‘Fertility Cliff’ Really Hit at 35?
nytimes.com
The Duncan and Babayev labs wish everyone a very happy and wonderful Thanksgiving!
Dr. Francesca Duncan and Dr. Hannes Campo received a 2025 Human Advanced In Vitro Model Initiative (HUMAIN) Award! 🎉 Their project aims to create the first human-based ovary–liver co-culture model to study and reverse age-related ovarian fibrosis. www.pcrm.org/news/news-re...
Physicians Committee and InSphero Announce Winners of HUMAIN Award
WASHINGTON, D.C.—The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit that advances human-based science, and InSphero, a global leader in 3D in vitro technology for drug safety and efficacy ...
pcrm.org
@MHR_ReprodSci Associate Editors attended the Upper Midwest Summit for Reproductive Science, representing our journal! Great science and networking opportunity! 🤩 Nardhy Gomez-Lopez Sara Pietroforte Farners Amargant Riera Francesca Duncan WashU Medicine OBGYN Northwestern Medicine
Dr. Francesca Duncan was interviewed in a segment on the TODAY Show this morning, highlighting her research on ovarian aging at @nu-crs.bsky.social and @buckinstitute.org Check out the story to learn more about longevity for women! www.today.com/video/why-ov...
Why Ovaries, Muscle Mass Could Be Key to Longevity for Women
In the race to live longer and better, two innovators are breaking the mold and focusing on surprising new areas of a woman’s body. Maria Shriver sits down with Francesca Duncan, a top researcher at N...
today.com