Homeostatic to reactive hyaluronan matrices in ovarian reproductive aging
Description: PROJECT NARRATIVE The female reproductive system ages decades prior to other organs and results in infertility, miscarriages, and birth defects - with such adverse consequences of particular concern as women worldwide are delaying childbearing. We recently identified fibrosis and inflammation as a hallmark of the aging ovarian microenvironment in which eggs grow and develop, and in this proposal we seek to investigate the underlying mechanism to ultimately counteract this phenomenon and improve reproductive longevity and outcomes. We will test the hypothesis that age-associated loss and fragmentation of a key extracellular matrix molecule (hyaluronan) in the mammalian ovary converts the normally homeostatic microenvironment into a reactive matrix that drives fibrosis and inflammation.
Funding type: research
Funder scheme: R01
Start date: 2018-02-06
End date: 2024-01-31
Investigator: FRANCESCA E. DUNCAN
Institution: NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO
Subfield: Cell Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Funded outputs count: 22
Funder award ID: R01HD093726
OpenAlex ID: G1212063009