Research Interests

My primary research focuses on leveraging understanding of the mechanisms of reproduction to develop more bio-mimetic assisted reproductive technologies.

My research primarily focuses on the domestic dog and cat models, where advancing understanding of reproduction has significant potential application to veterinary medicine, biomedical research (as large mammalian models for humans), and wildlife conservation (as a model for endangered canids). I have been exploring the mechanisms of ovarian folliculogenesis via novel in vitro microfluidic culture systems. In collaboration with biomedical engineers at Stanford University and University of Maryland, we have developed a prototype ‘artificial ovary’ that allows for the bio-mimicry of flow from vasculature, the physical rigidity of ovarian cortical tissue, and the co-culture ovarian follicles and somatic cells to reproduce the ovarian microenvironment in vitro. This research utilizes the domestic cat as a large mammalian model, with potential application to both human and felid fertility preservation.

Working with the red wolf’s Saving Animals From Extinction (SAFE) program through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, I am researching sperm capacitation, cryo-capacitation, and sperm-oviduct communications via extracellular vesicles. Beyond understanding the species-specific differences in sperm development, this research is key to advancing gamete preservation and in vitro fertilization efforts for genetic management of endangered carnivores