Laboratory research

In addition to clinical studies, the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility faculty and fellows participate in a wide variety of research. This research happens in the labs of leading OB-GYN scientists at Northwestern Medicine. These research programs are independently funded by substantial grants from the National Institutes of Health and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. 

This webpage highlights some of the work happening in our labs.

Lab of Elnur Babayev, MD

Research areas: 

• Environmental factors affecting reproduction, gametes and reproductive longevity  
• Understanding the determinants of oocyte quality across reproductive lifespan 
• Gene therapy in human tissues for reproductive system diseases
  
  

Experimental models: 

• Human tissues
• Mouse models
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​Lab of Serdar E. Bulun, MD

Research areas: 

• Endometrial differentiation and implantation
• Steroid regulation of gonadotropins, endometriosis
• Uterine leiomyomas
• Estrogen and androgen action in skeletal muscle

Experimental models: 
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• Human tissue stem cells
• Human iPS cells
• Genome-wide omics methodologies investigating steroid receptor and epigenetic mechanism-mediated gene regulation
• Transgenic mouse models

Lab of Debu Chakravarti, PhD

Research areas: 

• Nuclear receptor regulation of biological processes in uterine fibroids
• Epigenetic regulation of gene expression in reproductive tissues

Experimental models: 

• Human tissue stem cells
• Genome-wide omics methodologies investigating histone modifications and epigenetics

Lab of Francesca E. Duncan, PhD 

Research areas: 

• Follicle development
• Oocyte biology
• Ovarian aging
• Fertility preservation

Experimental models: 

• Human tissues
• Mouse models of ovarian biology and pathology
• Microfluidic system applications 

Lab of Julie Kim, PhD

Research areas: 

• Endometrial differentiation and implantation
• Endometriosis
• Uterine leiomyomas
• Endometrial cancer
• Signaling pathways in uterine cells
• Breast cancer and progesterone action

Experimental models: 

• Human tissues, stem cells, organoid cultures
• Microfluidic models of uterine tissues

To Request an Appointment

Northwestern Medicine Fertility Center is now conveniently located in four locations: Chicago, Geneva, Highland Park, and Oakbrook Terrace.

Visit our Locations & Appointments page for more information.

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