Our research team explores genetic, molecular, and cellular interactions between germ cells and somatic (non-germline) cells of the gonad. We focus on the mechanisms regulating reproductive system formation and function. Key questions are: 1) how are germline stem cells (GSCs) established and why are they absent in women? and 2) what establishes and maintains the sex-specific identity of germ cells, gonadal and extragonadal somatic cells, all of which are required for reproductive success and species perpetuation. Our goal in pursuing this research program is to define the developmental mechanisms regulating gonadogenesis to prevent infertility and to extend reproductive opportunities and choices for women and their partners. Extending reproductive potential is not only central to population preservation and fulfilling dreams of parenthood, it will also mitigate or eliminate health risks that accompany premature ovarian failure, perimenopause, and menopause in many women. From a developmental perspective, disorders of sexual development (DSDs) are common, and include gonadal dysgenesis, dysregulated puberty, gender dysphoria, and sterility, thereby posing challenging sex-specific treatment decisions. DSDs are idiopathic or result from genetic or hormonal anomalies during sexual development. With humans living longer and delaying parenthood, declining reproductive potential and increased germline mutation burden affect all sexes. We will leverage powerful genetic tools, cell imaging, and genome-wide multi-omics approaches to unravel the cellular and molecular underpinnings of reproductive development, health, and fertility, largely neglected areas of biomedical research.

Germ cells are essential for fertility. Our long-term goal is to understand the mechanisms that regulate specification and maintenance of the germline. The immediate goal of our research is to investigate the function and contribution of conserved genes to stem cell specification and sex-specific development of the germline, which has implications for understanding normal reproductive development, Disorders of Sexual Differentiation, and fertility, areas of biomedicine greatly in need of more research.