In April 2003, the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) funded a grant to form the Center for Reproductive Research at Northwestern University as part of the Specialized Cooperative Centers Program in Reproduction and Infertility Research (SCCPIR).

The Center supports a multidisciplinary group of scientists who use innovative approaches to expand understanding the mechanisms of normal female fertility. Their focus is to shed light on the structure-function relationships between cells in the ovary and the hormones that regulate follicle maturation. The major hypothesis driving the research is that normal follicle development depends upon the appropriate integration of signals derived from cell-cell contact and from the hormones and growth factors provided to the follicle structure in a cycle-dependent manner.

Three projects address this central hypothesis using innovative investigative strategies and a cohesive and highly effective partnership between basic biologists, structural biologists, chemical engineers, and clinical investigators.The projects include

The Center is unique in developing state-of-the-art biomaterials and advanced biophysical and structural approaches to increase understanding of ovarian function. The rationale for creating such a Center is that elucidating the structure-function relationships between cells within the follicle and the hormones, receptors, and signaling molecules that control ovarian function will greatly advance our understanding of female reproductive physiology and thereby directly impact women's health.

For a description of a specific project, click on a link below.

Center For Reproductive Research at Northwestern University 2205 Tech Drive, Hogan 2-160 Evanston, IL 60208

Ph: (847) 491-3627 Fax: (847) 491-2224 b-cushing@northwestern.edu