Prestigious Lalor Foundation Fellowship awarded

Congratulations to Dr Elly Jarred, a Postdoctoral Scientist in the Germ Cell Development and Epigenetics Lab headed by Associate Professor Patrick Western, who has just been awarded the prestigious Lalor Foundation Fellowship worth US$55,000. 

The Lalor Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship Program supports promising new researchers in establishing scientific and teaching careers.

The mission of the program is to support early career researchers in their work so that they can become independently funded in the field of mammalian reproductive biology as related to the regulation of fertility.

Lalor Foundation Fellowship

This award provides one year of funding towards Dr Jarred’s salary to support her research. In this project, she is investigating how non-genetic mechanisms, called epigenetic modifications, regulate genes within the granulosa cells of the ovary. 

Granulosa cells are critical as they support egg production and regulate ovarian function, endocrine health and fertility.

As exposure to environmental factors such as diet or drugs can influence epigenetics, this research is helping to understand how non-genetic and environmental factors can impact ovarian function and potentially contribute to ovarian conditions such as primary ovarian insufficiency, polycystic ovary syndrome or ovarian cancers. 

Understanding the role of epigenetics in the ovary

“This award allows me to continue my research to better understand the role of epigenetics within the ovary and help us understand how altered epigenetic modifications can contribute to ovarian dysfunction,” Dr Jarred said.

“Our work is uncovering how epigenetic modifications alter how genes are regulated in cells of the ovary, and how this influences women’s reproductive health and fertility.”

“Epigenetic modifications to our DNA or associated histone proteins are critical in regulating how a cell functions, and are often dysregulated in cancer and other diseases.”

The Anna Lalor Burdick Program funds initiatives including the Lalor Foundation Fellowship that bring women information and access to reproductive health care, contraception, and pregnancy termination in order to help broaden and enhance their options in life.

Anna Lalor Burdick devoted much of her life to the education, careers and lives of women. From 1917 until her retirement in 1939, she served in the U.S. Department of Education as Special Agent for Trade and Industrial Education for Girls and Women. 

Since its beginning, the Lalor Foundation has made research grants and awards totalling nearly US$20 million to more than 1,000 appointees.