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Throughout a woman’s reproductive lifespan, ovarian follicles harboring an immature ovum are summoned each month for maturation while others remain in reserve for years or even decades. Nevertheless, scientists are uncertain about how this selection occurs. Further insights into the selection mechanism could foster a fresh comprehension of female infertility attributed to polycystic ovary syndrome or pave the way for new alternatives for individuals facing infertility due to cancer therapies or aging.

With a five-year $630,000 CAREER Grant from the National Science Foundation, Alexandra Rutz, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis, intends to adopt a mechanobiology perspective to illuminate this process by exploring how the varying stiffness of the ovarian follicles’ microenvironment influences which ones are chosen for maturation.

CAREER grants endorse early-career faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-researcher through exceptional research, high-quality education, and the synergy of education and research aligned with their institution’s mission. At least one-third of the current McKelvey Engineering faculty members have been honored with this award.

Discover more on the McKelvey Engineering website.

The article Bioelectronic material may help to reveal new information behind infertility was first published on The Source.

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