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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Duncan Lab

Publications

Learn more about the work that we do in the Duncan Lab through our 50 most recent publications linked below or visit Dr. Duncan’s faculty profile.

  1. Converse A, Dipali SS, Schowe IP, Kelly EB, Jambunathan SS, Ocañas SR, Stout MB, Pritchard MT, Duncan FE  The post-reproductive ovary shifts from a reproductive to an immune-like organ.  Mol Hum Reprod  2026 Jun 10;. pii:gaag038
  2. Oliveira SP, Ferreira CS, Zaniker-Gomez EJ, Charles M, Freitas LA, Felix FB, Pereira LAAC, de Castro WV, Pinho V, Duncan FE  et al.  In vitro and in vivo treatment with propranolol influences the number of early preantral follicles in mice†.  Biol Reprod  2026 Apr 13;114(4):1429-1444. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioag024
  3. Galligos A, Varberg JM, Yueh WT, Converse A, Malloy S, Aljubran F, Duncan FE, Gerton JL  Multicellular origins of murine ovarian inflammaging.  Commun Biol  2026 Mar 13;9(1). pii:593
  4. Zhou LT, Gokyer D, Akinboro S, Duncan FE, Babayev E  Acute anomalous high-temperature exposure impacts on mouse ovaries.  J Assist Reprod Genet  2026 Mar;43(3):997-1005. doi:10.1007/s10815-026-03801-9
  5. Eubanks AA, Goldman KN, Babayev E, Duncan FE, Widra E  Influencing ovarian aging in reproductive medicine: promise, evidence, and unresolved questions.  Fertil Steril  2026 Mar;125(3):387-398. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2025.12.020
  6. Duncan FE, Babayev E  The ovarian stroma as a therapeutic target.  Science  2026 Feb 05;391(6785):552-553. doi:10.1126/science.aee7270
  7. Balough JL, O'Halloran TV, Duncan FE, Woodruff TK  Inorganic profiles of preimplantation embryos and the association of zinc with Nanog expression in the blastocyst.  Reproduction  2026 Jan 15;171(1). pii:xaaf014
  8. Duncan FE  The Legacy Series: shining light on our origins to inform the future of reproductive science and medicine.  Mol Hum Reprod  2026 Jan 07;32(1). pii:gaag011
  9. Monsivais D, Duncan FE, Boiani M,   Call for papers-shaping reproduction in 3D: organoids, assembloids, and emerging models.  Mol Hum Reprod  2026 Jan 07;32(1). pii:gaag012
  10. Dipali SS, Duncan FE  The ovarian stroma as a key regulator of follicular development and gamete quality across the reproductive lifespan.  Curr Top Dev Biol  2026;169:237-272. doi:10.1016/bs.ctdb.2026.04.005
  11. Dipali SS, Converse A, Gowett MQ, Kamat P, Zaniker EJ, Fennell A, Chou T, Pritchard MT, Zelinski M, Phillip JM  et al.  Self-Organizing Ovarian Somatic Organoids Preserve Cellular Heterogeneity and Reveal Cellular Contributions to Ovarian Aging.  Aging Cell  2026 Jan;25(1):e70333. pii:e70333
  12. Zaniker-Gomez EJ, Yan Z, Yang J, Russell DL, Zhang H, Sun SX, Duncan FE  Microscale pressure measurements and optical coherence tomography reveal time-dependent biomechanical stages of ovulation in mice.  iScience  2025 Dec 19;28(12):114086. pii:114086
  13. Watson MA, Devrukhkar PR, Murad NF, Wu F, Kim MJ, Anvari H, Tran U, Martin N, Tran T, Zaza G  et al.  Senescence-Linked Fibrosis in the Aging Human Ovary Revealed by p16-Based Histological Profiling and Spatial Transcriptomics.  bioRxiv  2025 Dec 08;. pii:2025.12.03.692228
  14. Zhou LT, Gokyer D, Madkins K, Beestrum M, Horton DE, Duncan FE, Babayev E  The effects of heat stress on the ovary, follicles, and oocytes: a systematic review†.  Biol Reprod  2025 Nov 14;113(5):1013-1028. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioaf150
  15. Campo H, Hashim PH, Zaniker-Gomez EJ, Gauthier S, Yan Z, Zhang HF, Ankrum JA, Duncan FE  Production and Use of Customizable Agarose Molds for Scaffold-Free Mouse Ovarian Follicle Culture.  J Vis Exp  2025 Oct 24;(224). doi:10.3791/68871
  16. Gokyer D, Salpeter N, Hughes L, Lee HC, Lohman MJ, Atazhanova T, Kleinhans A, Riley JK, Pavone M, Duncan FE  et al.  Collection of Human Follicular Fluid, Follicle Somatic Cells, and Immature Oocytes from Individuals Undergoing In Vitro Fertilization.  J Vis Exp  2025 Oct 24;(224). doi:10.3791/69122
  17. Hughes L, Duncan FE, Babayev E  Ovarian aging: a missing diagnosis in reproductive medicine.  Nat Med  2025 Aug;31(8):2485-2487. doi:10.1038/s41591-025-03733-4
  18. Devrukhkar PR, Watson MA, Soygur B, Wu F, Bons J, Anvari H, Atazhanova T, Martin N, Tran T, Schneider K  et al.  A Comprehensive Multiomics Signature of Doxorubicin-Induced Cellular Senescence in the Postmenopausal Human Ovary.  Aging Cell  2025 Aug;24(8):e70111. pii:e70111
  19. Boiani M, Duncan FE  'Small but mighty': the Concise Communication comes to MHR.  Mol Hum Reprod  2025 Jul 03;31(3). pii:gaaf049
  20. VanBenschoten H, Nugmanova Z, Olmsted A, Annepureddy LD, Gingerich I, Kratka C, Huang R, Duncan FE, Kholod O, Goods BA  A pre-menopausal single-cell atlas for ovarian drug discovery.  bioRxiv  2025 Jun 27;. pii:2025.06.20.660779
  21. Huang R, Kratka CE, Pea J, McCann C, Nelson J, Bryan JP, Zhou LT, Russo DD, Zaniker-Gomez EJ, Gandhi AH  et al.  Single-cell and spatiotemporal profile of ovulation in the mouse ovary.  PLoS Biol  2025 Jun;23(6):e3003193. pii:e3003193
  22. Converse A, Perry MJ, Dipali SS, Isola JVV, Kelly EB, Varberg JM, Zelinski MB, Stout MB, Pritchard MT, Duncan FE  Multinucleated giant cells are hallmarks of ovarian aging with unique immune and degradation-associated molecular signatures.  PLoS Biol  2025 Jun;23(6):e3003204. pii:e3003204
  23. Amargant F, Magalhaes C, Pritchard MT, Duncan FE  Systemic low-dose anti-fibrotic treatment attenuates ovarian aging in the mouse.  Geroscience  2025 Jun;47(3):3475-3495. doi:10.1007/s11357-024-01322-w
  24. Gargus ES, Sharma R, Gu R, Mulcahy C, Johnson BW, Song J, Lee J, Zelinski M, Duncan FE  Short-term moderate caloric restriction in the rhesus macaque attenuates markers of ovarian aging in select populations.  Aging (Albany NY)  2025 May 20;17(5):1164-1189. doi:10.18632/aging.206253
  25. Balough JL, O'Halloran TV, Duncan FE, Woodruff TK  Inorganic profiles of preimplantation embryos reveal a role for zinc in blastocyst development.  bioRxiv  2025 May 18;. pii:2025.05.14.654061
  26. Hashim PH, Perry MJ, Pritchard MT, Gerton JL, Duncan FE  Autonomous follicle quality control mechanisms: innate immune signaling capabilities of granulosa cells.  Reproduction  2025 May 01;169(5). pii:e250042
  27. Yano Maher JC, Zelinski MB, Oktay KH, Duncan FE, Segars JH, Lujan ME, Lou H, Yun BH, Hanfling SN, Schwartz LE  et al.  Classification system of human ovarian follicle morphology: recommendations of the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - sponsored ovarian nomenclature workshop.  Fertil Steril  2025 May;123(5):761-778. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.11.016
  28. Rogina B, Anderson R, LeBrasseur NK, Curran SP, Yousefzadeh MJ, Ghosh B, Duque G, Howlett S, Austad S, Demuth I  et al.  Symposia Report of The Annual Biological Sciences Section Meeting of the Gerontological Society of America 2023, Tampa, Florida.  J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci  2025 Apr 07;80(5). pii:glaf026
  29. Ericsson V, Elam M, Sapao P, Nguyen LMT, Gill ME, Chodavarapu S, Córdova-Fletes C, Lafrenaye A, Hassan S, Mahendroo M  et al.  Regulation of Female Reproductive Aging by the Spag17 Gene.  bioRxiv  2025 Mar 03;. pii:2025.03.01.640648
  30. Zhou LT, Gokyer D, Madkins K, Beestrum M, Horton DE, Duncan FE, Babayev E  The Effects of Heat Stress on the Ovary, Follicles and Oocytes: A Systematic Review.  bioRxiv  2024 Dec 05;. pii:2024.12.04.626831
  31. Converse A, Perry MJ, Dipali SS, Isola JVV, Kelly EB, Varberg JM, Zelinski MB, Gerton JL, Stout MB, Pritchard MT  et al.  Multinucleated giant cells are hallmarks of ovarian aging with unique immune and degradation-associated molecular signatures.  bioRxiv  2024 Dec 05;. pii:2024.12.03.626649
  32. Balough JL, Dipali SS, Velez K, Kumar TR, Duncan FE  Hallmarks of female reproductive aging in physiologic aging mice.  Nat Aging  2024 Dec;4(12):1711-1730. doi:10.1038/s43587-024-00769-y
  33. Suryadevara V, Hudgins AD, Rajesh A, Pappalardo A, Karpova A, Dey AK, Hertzel A, Agudelo A, Rocha A, Soygur B  et al.  SenNet recommendations for detecting senescent cells in different tissues.  Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol  2024 Dec;25(12):1001-1023. doi:10.1038/s41580-024-00738-8
  34. Bomba-Warczak EK, Velez KM, Zhou LT, Guillermier C, Edassery S, Steinhauser ML, Savas JN, Duncan FE  Exceptional longevity of mammalian ovarian and oocyte macromolecules throughout the reproductive lifespan.  Elife  2024 Oct 31;13. pii:RP93172
  35. Zaniker EJ, Zhang J, Russo D, Huang R, Suritis K, Drake RS, Barlow-Smith E, Shalek AK, Woodruff TK, Xiao S  et al.  Follicle-intrinsic and spatially distinct molecular programs drive follicle rupture and luteinization during ex vivo mammalian ovulation.  Commun Biol  2024 Oct 23;7(1):1374. pii:1374
  36. Dipali SS, Gowett MQ, Kamat P, Converse A, Zaniker EJ, Fennell A, Chou T, Pritchard MT, Zelinski M, Phillip JM  et al.  Self-organizing ovarian somatic organoids preserve cellular heterogeneity and reveal cellular contributions to ovarian aging.  bioRxiv  2024 Aug 10;. pii:2024.08.10.607456
  37. Gokyer D, Akinboro S, Zhou LT, Kleinhans A, Laronda MM, Duncan FE, Riley JK, Goldman KN, Babayev E  The oocyte microenvironment is altered in adolescents compared to oocyte donors.  Hum Reprod Open  2024;2024(3):hoae047. pii:hoae047
  38. Wu H, Nguyen H, Hashim PH, Fogelgren B, Duncan FE, Ward WS  Oocyte-specific EXOC5 expression is required for mouse oogenesis and folliculogenesis.  Mol Hum Reprod  2024 Aug 05;30(8). pii:gaae026
  39. Zaniker EJ, Hashim PH, Gauthier S, Ankrum JA, Campo H, Duncan FE  Three-Dimensionally Printed Agarose Micromold Supports Scaffold-Free Mouse Ex Vivo Follicle Growth, Ovulation, and Luteinization.  Bioengineering (Basel)  2024 Jul 15;11(7). pii:719
  40. Amargant F, Vieira C, Pritchard MT, Duncan FE  Systemic low-dose anti-fibrotic treatment attenuates ovarian aging in the mouse.  bioRxiv  2024 Jun 25;. pii:2024.06.21.600035
  41. Zaniker EJ, Zhang M, Hughes L, La Follette L, Atazhanova T, Trofimchuk A, Babayev E, Duncan FE  Shear wave elastography to assess stiffness of the human ovary and other reproductive tissues across the reproductive lifespan in health and disease†.  Biol Reprod  2024 Jun 12;110(6):1100-1114. doi:10.1093/biolre/ioae050
  42. Huang R, Kratka CE, Pea J, McCann C, Nelson J, Bryan JP, Zhou LT, Russo DD, Zaniker EJ, Gandhi AH  et al.  Single-cell and spatiotemporal profile of ovulation in the mouse ovary.  bioRxiv  2024 Jun 05;. pii:2024.05.20.594719
  43. Zhu Y, Kratka CR, Pea J, Lee HC, Kratka CE, Xu J, Marin D, Treff NR, Duncan FE  The severity of meiotic aneuploidy is associated with altered morphokinetic variables of mouse oocyte maturation.  Hum Reprod Open  2024;2024(2):hoae023. pii:hoae023
  44. Gokyer D, Akinboro S, Zhou LT, Kleinhans A, Laronda MM, Duncan FE, Riley JK, Goldman KN, Babayev E  The oocyte microenvironment is altered in adolescents compared to oocyte donors.  bioRxiv  2024 Apr 06;. pii:2024.04.04.588118
  45. Salvi A, Li W, Dipali SS, Cologna SM, Pavone ME, Duncan FE, Burdette JE  Follicular fluid aids cell adhesion, spreading in an age independent manner and shows an age-dependent effect on DNA damage in fallopian tube epithelial cells.  Heliyon  2024 Mar 30;10(6):e27336. pii:e27336
  46. Boiani M, Duncan FE  A new initiative for 2024: increasing peer review transparency at MHR.  Mol Hum Reprod  2024 Mar 28;30(4). pii:gaae014
  47. Duncan FE, Boiani M  Influx of innovation: promoting the scientific advances of early career investigators in Molecular Human Reproduction.  Mol Hum Reprod  2024 Feb 29;30(3). pii:gaad050
  48. Converse A, Liu Z, Patel JC, Shakyawar S, Guda C, Bousfield GR, Kumar TR, Duncan FE  Oocyte quality is enhanced by hypoglycosylated FSH through increased cell-to-cell interaction during mouse follicle development.  Development  2023 Nov 15;150(22). pii:dev202170
  49. Dipali SS, Suebthawinkul C, Burdette JE, Pavone ME, Duncan FE  Human follicular fluid elicits select dose- and age-dependent effects on mouse oocytes and cumulus-oocyte complexes in a heterologous in vitro maturation assay.  Mol Hum Reprod  2023 Nov 01;29(11). pii:gaad039
  50. Babayev E, Suebthawinkul C, Gokyer D, Parkes WS, Rivas F, Pavone ME, Hall AR, Pritchard MT, Duncan FE  Cumulus expansion is impaired with advanced reproductive age due to loss of matrix integrity and reduced hyaluronan.  Aging Cell  2023 Nov;22(11):e14004. pii:e14004

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