The 2023 cohort of GCRLE Scholars encompasses 28 scientists spanning 4 continents pioneering the cutting edge of reproductive longevity research. Grantees were selected by an esteemed Scientific Advisory Council composed of leaders in the fields of Aging and Reproductive Biology. 

See the 2023 GCRLE Grants Press Release here


2023 Junior Scholar Award Recipients


Miguel Angel Brieño- Enríquez, MD, PhD


University of Pittsburgh
Natural partial reprograming in the naked mole-rat ovary leads to ovarian rejuvenation and protracted fertility

Project Abstract
Lab website

Longhua Guo, PhD


University of Michigan
Molecular and genetic drivers of female reproductive aging and rejuvenation

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Lab website

Sarah Ocanas, PhD


Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Comparison of macrophage activational response to immunomodulatory and hormonal signaling in the female mouse brain and ovary with reproductive aging.

Project Abstract
Lab website

2023 Senior Scholar Award Recipients

Diana Laird, PhD


University of California, San Francisco
The aging of human follicles: a molecular portrait and 3D landscape

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Michael Stout, PhD


Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation
Unraveling how mTORC1 activity in stromal fibroblasts contributes to ovarian inflammation, cellular senescence, fibrosis, & follicular exhaustion

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2023 Pilot Award Recipients

Elvan Böke, PhD


Centre for Genomic Regulation
Deciphering cell-intrinsic and cell-extrinsic mechanisms of oocyte ageing

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Lab website

Iain Cheeseman, PhD


Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research
Analyzing mRNA splicing as a source of reduced oocyte quality during female reproductive aging

Project Abstract
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Hattie Chung, PhD


Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Profiling the spatiotemporal dynamics of cellular diversity during ovarian aging

Project Abstract

Aubrey Converse, PhD, Michele Pritchard, PhD


Northwestern University
Macrophage-derived multinucleated giant cells as drivers of aging in the mammalian ovary

Project Abstract

Francesca Duncan, PhD


Northwestern University
Shear wave elastography (SWE) in assessment of human ovarian stiffness and reproductive longevity

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Lab website

Deena Emera, PhD


Buck Institute for Research on Aging
The genetic basis of reproductive longevity in exceptionally long-lived mammals

Project Abstract

Michael Garratt, PhD, Rebecca Campbell, PhD, and Greg Anderson, PhD


University of Otago
Uncoupling nutrition from reproduction to extend female fertility

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Lab website

Arjumand Ghazi, PhD


University of Pittsburgh
Defining a Molecular Signature of Aging Induced by Gonadal Dysfunction

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Lab website

Kathryn Grive, PhD


Women's and Infants Hospital of Rhode Island
Revealing the Role of Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L1 and the Ovarian Proteasome Pathway in Female Reproductive Aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Zachary Knight, PhD


University of California, San Francisco
Effect of reproductive aging on the gut-brain axis

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Lab website

T Rajendra Kumar, PhD


University of Colorado
Re-routed FSH Secretion and Female Reproductive Longevity

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Lab website

Lena Pernas, PhD


University of California, Los Angeles
Identification of novel regulators of steroidogenesis

Project Abstract

Augusto Schneider, PhD


Universidade Federal de Pelotas
BCAAs regulate ovarian aging in response to diet composition and exercise

Project Abstract
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2023 Postdoctoral Scholar Award Recipients

Olga Bielska, PhD


Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Uncovering a new gene linking aging, mitochondria, and infertility

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Hannes Campo, PhD


Northwestern University
Development of a vascularized microfluidic ovarian senescence model for senolytic drug screening.

Project Abstract
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Haiyuan Mu, PhD


UC Berkeley
Regulation and functional roles of retrotransposon in ovarian aging

Project Abstract
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Yasuhita Munakata, PhD


University of California, Davis
Chromatin regulatory mechanisms of ovarian reserve underlying disrupted gene expression in aged oocytes

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Periklis Paganos, PhD


Marine Biological Laboratory
Gene regulatory networks controlling sea star reproductive longevity and aging

Project Abstract
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Na-Young Rho, PhD


Yale University
Determining Molecular Pathways in Human Ovarian Aging

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Lab website

Laura Wester, PhD


Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing
Translating the translatome: How reproductive quiescence and activation are regulated by mRNA translation-based mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans

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Lab website

Recipients of the 2020 GCRLE Scholar Awards comprise a global group who share our vision of advancing research to better understand the underlying causes of female reproductive aging. Grantees were selected by a Scientific Advisory Council composed of leaders in the fields of Aging and Reproductive Biology. Grantees range from early career scientists to established scholars in the field.


2020 Senior Scholar Award Recipients

Holly Ingraham, PhD


University of California, San Francisco
Identifying Novel Drivers in Central Control of Female Reproduction

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Ingraham discuss her research in OVA Hour | Episode 9

Listen to Dr Ingraham present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 2

Coleen Murphy, PhD


Princeton University
Defining a “Clock” for Female Reproductive Decline

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Murphy present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 1

Mary Zelinski, PhD


Oregon Health & Science University
Interventions for Ovarian Aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Zelinski present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 9

2020 Junior Scholar Award Recipients

Bérénice Benayoun, PhD


University of Southern California
Establishing new age-relevant mouse models of menopause

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Benayoun present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 4

Lynae Brayboy, MD


Charité – Universitätsmedizin, Berlin
Dysfunctional MDR-1 disrupts mitochondrial homeostasis in the oocyte

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Brayboy present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 7

Ingrid Fetter-Pruneda, PhD


Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México
The molecular and cellular basis of high fecundity in social insects

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Fetter-Pruneda present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 4

Amanda Kallen, MD


Yale University
Ovarian Senescence as a Novel Driver of Female Reproductive Aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Kallen present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 5

2020 Pilot Award Recipients

Ivana Celic, PhD


Tulane University
LINE1 Retrotransposons in Female Reproductive Aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Celic present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 3

Iain Cheeseman, PhD


Whitehead Institute, MIT
Analyzing centromere rejuvenation during female reproductive aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Cheeseman present his research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 6

Marco Conti, MD


University of California, San Francisco
mRNA translation program and oocyte aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Conti present his research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 8

Arjumand Ghazi, PhD


University of Pittsburgh
Genetic & Chemical Modulation of Splicing to Combat Reproductive Senescence

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Ghazi present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 5

Polina Lishko, PhD


University of California, Berkeley
Endocannabinoid signaling in the mammalian ovary and reproductive longevity

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Lishko present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 2

Zita Santos, PhD, Carlos Ribeiro, PhD


Fundação D. Anna de Sommer Champalimaud e Dr. Carlos Montez Champalimaud
Metabolic reprogramming, dietary nutrients and food cravings in ovary aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Ribeiro and Dr Santos present their research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 3 and Episode 8

Yousin Suh, PhD


Columbia University
Genetic Control of Ovarian Aging in Humans

Project Abstract
Lab website

2020 Postdoctoral Scholar Award Recipients

Cristina Quesada Candela, PhD


Magee-Women's Research Institute and Foundation
University of Pittsburgh
Proteasomal Targets Driving Meiotic Failure During Reproductive Aging

Project Abstract
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Ana Milunovic Jevtic, PhD, DVM


University of California, Berkeley
The role of endocannabinoid hydrolase ABHD2 in the ovarian aging

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Lab website

Bikem Soygur, PhD


University of California, San Francisco
How duration of meiotic prophase affects development and aging of oocytes

Project Abstract
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Listen to Dr Gul Soygur Kaya present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 6

Min Hoo Kim, PhD


University of Southern California
Elucidating causal effects of the microbiome on reproductive aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Kim present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 7

Seungsoo Kim, PhD


Columbia University
Integrative bioinformatic analysis of human ovarian aging and healthspan

Project Abstract
Lab website

Olfat Malak, PhD


Buck Institute for Research on Aging
Role of sympathetic transmission in the regulation of ovarian aging

Project Abstract
Lab website

Farners Amargant i Riera, PhD


Northwestern University
Targeting fibrosis and inflammation to extend reproductive longevity

Project Abstract
Lab website

Listen to Dr Amargant present her research in Making Reproductive Longevity a Reality | Episode 9

Zijing Zhang, PhD


University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
The impact of ovarian macrophage population on mouse ovarian aging

Project Abstract
Lab website