Sandra Carson

Last updated
Sandra Ann Carson
EducationMedical School: Northwestern University Medical School
Residency: Northwestern Memorial Hospital
Fellowship: Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center
Occupation(s)Doctor and researcher
Known forInventing the first artificial human ovary

Sandra Ann Carson is an American obstetrician who is the principal innovator of the first artificial human ovary. This innovation was reported in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, and recognized by Time magazine as one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs in 2010. [1] [2] [3]

Contents

In this work, Carson, et al. introduced theca cells donated by reproductive-age patients into "3-D Petri dishes" designed to resemble the sponge-like cells of a human ovary. In the lab, the cell types interacted with one another and functioned for all intents and purposes like a real ovary, even successfully maturing a human egg from its earliest stages in the follicle to a fully developed form. [4]

To build the ovary, honeycombs of theca cells were formed, one of two key types in the ovary, donated by reproductive-age patients at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island. Together with human egg cells, donated granulosa cells were inserted into the honeycomb shape the theca cells formed. In days, the theca cells enveloped the granulosa and eggs, mimicking a real ovary.

Clinically, the artificial ovary could play a significant role in the future, eventually yielding new infertility treatments for women by preserving the fertility of cancer patients, for example: immature eggs could be salvaged and frozen before chemotherapy or radiation, and then matured outside the patient in the artificial ovary. [5]

In parallel with this effort and a scientific first, Carson co-directed a research team by extracting information about gene expression from fertile human egg cells without hurting them. In this work the team was able to sequence the transcribed genetic material, or mRNA, in egg cells, in smaller structures pinched off from them called polar bodies. Polar bodies are nonfunctional and incapable of being fertilized. This new technique could ultimately give parents and doctors a preview of which eggs are likely to make the most viable embryos. [6]

Education

Carson earned her medical degree from Northwestern University Medical School in 1977 and completed her residency there in 1981. She completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago Medical Center. [7] She is a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with subspecialty certification in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. [8]

Career

Carson has served as the chair of REI Board of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) and chair of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee for Reproductive Health Drugs. She currently serves as editor-in-chief of Sexuality, Reproduction and Menopause. [9]

From 2007 to 2014, Carson was a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and served as Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She was appointed as Vice President of Education with the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) from March 2013 to August 2018. [10]

Carson joined Yale School of Medicine as a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences and director of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) section in February 2019. [11] [12]

Public awareness

Carson serves as a news consultant for various television networks and contributor for print publications including: CBS, CNN, [13] ABC, NBC, [14] 20/20 , Time magazine, [5] [15] Parents magazine, and Mademoiselle . [16]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovary</span> Female reproductive organ that produces egg cells

The ovary is an organ in the female reproductive system that produces an ovum. When released, this travels down the fallopian tube into the uterus. There is an ovary found on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries also secrete hormones that play a role in the menstrual cycle and fertility. The ovary progresses through many stages beginning in the prenatal period through menopause. It is also an endocrine gland because of the various hormones that it secretes.

Obstetrics and gynaecology is the medical specialty that encompasses the two subspecialties of obstetrics and gynecology. The specialization is an important part of care for women's health.

Reproductive technology encompasses all current and anticipated uses of technology in human and animal reproduction, including assisted reproductive technology (ART), contraception and others. It is also termed Assisted Reproductive Technology, where it entails an array of appliances and procedures that enable the realization of safe, improved and healthier reproduction. While this is not true of all people, for an array of married couples, the ability to have children is vital. But through the technology, infertile couples have been provided with options that would allow them to conceive children.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovarian follicle</span> Structure containing a single egg cell

An ovarian follicle is a roughly spheroid cellular aggregation set found in the ovaries. It secretes hormones that influence stages of the menstrual cycle. At the time of puberty, those with ovaries have approximately 200,000 to 300,000 follicles, each with the potential to release an egg cell (ovum) at ovulation for fertilization. These eggs are developed once every menstrual cycle with around 450–500 being ovulated during a woman's reproductive lifetime.

Fertility medications, also known as fertility drugs, are medications which enhance reproductive fertility. For women, fertility medication is used to stimulate follicle development of the ovary. There are very few fertility medication options available for men.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Reproductive medicine</span> Branch of medicine

Reproductive medicine is a branch of medicine concerning the male and female reproductive systems. It encompasses a variety of reproductive conditions, their prevention and assessment, as well as their subsequent treatment and prognosis.

The theca folliculi comprise a layer of the ovarian follicles. They appear as the follicles become secondary follicles.

Reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) is a surgical subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that trains physicians in reproductive medicine addressing hormonal functioning as it pertains to reproduction as well as the issue of infertility. While most REI specialists primarily focus on the treatment of infertility, reproductive endocrinologists are trained to also test and treat hormonal dysfunctions in females and males outside infertility. Reproductive endocrinologists have specialty training (residency) in obstetrics and gynecology (ob-gyn) before they undergo sub-specialty training (fellowship) in REI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Buster</span> American physician

John Edmond Buster is an American physician who, while working at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, directed the research team that performed the first embryo transfer from one woman to another resulting in a live birth. It was performed at the Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, reported in July 1983, and culminated in the announcement of the birth on February 3, 1984. In the procedure, an embryo that was just beginning to develop was transferred from the woman in whom it had been conceived by artificial insemination to another woman who gave birth to the infant 38 weeks later. The sperm used in the artificial insemination came from the husband of the woman who bore the baby.

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to obstetrics:

Theca lutein cyst is a type of bilateral functional ovarian cyst filled with clear, straw-colored fluid. These cysts result from exaggerated physiological stimulation due to elevated levels of beta-human chorionic gonadotropin (beta-hCG) or hypersensitivity to beta-hCG. On ultrasound and MRI, theca lutein cysts appear in multiples on ovaries that are enlarged.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Sauer</span> American physician (born 1955)

Mark V. Sauer is an American physician who specializes in reproductive medicine. He is a clinician, researcher and medical educator best known for his work in the development of egg and embryo donation, fertility care of HIV-seropositive patients, and reproductive bioethics. He currently is Professor and Chairman of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He also serves as the Senior Associate Dean for Women's Health there. Sauer was the Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at Columbia University Medical Center in New York City for twenty-one years, where he was also the program and laboratory director of the Center for Women's Reproductive Care, and a tenured professor and vice-chairman in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University. While at Columbia University he also served on the Medical Ethics Committee of New York Presbyterian-Columbia University Medical Center.

Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) insensitivity, or ovarian insensitivity to FSH in females, also referable to as ovarian follicle hypoplasia or granulosa cell hypoplasia in females, is a rare autosomal recessive genetic and endocrine syndrome affecting both females and males, with the former presenting with much greater severity of symptomatology. It is characterized by a resistance or complete insensitivity to the effects of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), a gonadotropin which is normally responsible for the stimulation of estrogen production by the ovaries in females and maintenance of fertility in both sexes. The condition manifests itself as hypergonadotropic hypogonadism, reduced or absent puberty, amenorrhea, and infertility in females, whereas males present merely with varying degrees of infertility and associated symptoms.

Female fertility is affected by age and is a major fertility factor for women. A woman's fertility is in generally good quality from the late teens to early thirties, although it declines gradually over time. Around 35, fertility is noted to decline at a more rapid rate. While many sources suggest a more dramatic drop at around 35, this is unclear, since few studies have been conducted since the 19th century. One 2004 study of European women found fertility of the 27–34 and the 35–39 groups had only a four-percent difference. At age 45, a woman starting to try to conceive will have no live birth in 50–80 percent of cases. Menopause, or the cessation of menstrual periods, generally occurs in the 40s and 50s and marks the cessation of fertility, although age-related infertility can occur before then. The relationship between age and female fertility is sometimes referred to as a woman's "biological clock."

Alan H. DeCherney is an Obstetrician and Gynecologist who specializes in reproductive endocrinology & infertility. He is experienced in reproductive and endocrinology, infertility, and reproductive genetics.

Peter C. Klatsky is a Doctor of Medicine specialized in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and an assistant professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Klatsky who is board certified in his specialty as well as in obstetrics and gynaecology, is also the Founder and CEO of Spring Fertility Management Llc, a San Francisco Bay Area fertility company. Klatsky is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a nonprofit think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs.

Ovarian follicle activation can be defined as primordial follicles in the ovary moving from a quiescent (inactive) to a growing phase. The primordial follicle in the ovary is what makes up the “pool” of follicles that will be induced to enter growth and developmental changes that change them into pre-ovulatory follicles, ready to be released during ovulation. The process of development from a primordial follicle to a pre-ovulatory follicle is called folliculogenesis.

The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology is a non-profit organization that provides board certification for practicing obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States and Canada. It was founded in 1927, incorporated in 1930, and is based in Dallas, Texas. It is one of 24 medical boards recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. ABOG's mission is to define the standards, certify obstetricians and gynecologists, and facilitate continuous learning to advance knowledge, practice, and professionalism in women's health.

Norbert Gleicher is an American obstetrician-gynecologist active in obstetrical practice, in vitro fertilization, reproductive endocrinology, and reproductive immunology. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FACOG) and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and currently serves as president, medical director and chief scientist of the Center for Human Reproduction (CHR) in New York City, a clinical fertility center that he founded in 1981. Simultaneously, he is President of the Foundation for Reproductive Medicine, a not-for-profit research foundation. Gleicher maintains additional academic appointments at Rockefeller University, and Medical University of Vienna.

Ovarian follicle dominance is the process where one or more follicles are selected per cycle to ovulate.

References

  1. ↑ Park, Alice (2010-12-09). "Artificial Ovary - The Top 10 Everything of 2010". TIME. Archived from the original on December 13, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  2. ↑ Collins, Nick (2010-09-16). "Artificial ovary gives fertility hope to cancer sufferers". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2010-09-19. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  3. ↑ Orenstein, David (2010-09-14). "Researchers build 'artificial ovary' to develop oocytes into mature human eggs" (Press release). Brown University News and Events. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  4. ↑ Weintraub, Karen (2010-09-20). "Artificial Ovary Could Help Infertile Women". Technology Review. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  5. 1 2 Sifferlin, Alexandra (2010-09-16). "A New Artificial Ovary May Someday Boost Women's Success with In Vitro". Healthland; TIME. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  6. ↑ Orenstein, David (2011-10-06). "'Genetic biopsy' of human eggs might help pick the best for IVF" (Press release). Brown University News and Events. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  7. ↑ "Fertility Pioneer". magazine.nm.org. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  8. ↑ "Verify Physician". ABOG. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  9. ↑ "Sexuality, Reproduction & Menopause". SRM. Archived from the original on 2012-04-27. Retrieved 2012-06-05.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ "Dr. Sandra Ann Carson". ACOG press release. Retrieved 2018-06-20.
  11. ↑ "Sandra Ann Carson, MD". medicine.yale.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  12. ↑ "Fertility Pioneer". magazine.nm.org. Retrieved 2023-11-13.
  13. ↑ "Test tube babies, 25 years later". CNN Health. 2003-07-28. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  14. ↑ Brian Alexander (2007-07-19). "The sex doctors will see you now". NBC News. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
  15. ↑ Rochman, Bonnie (2010-10-11). "Fertility and Cancer: Surviving and Having Kids Too". TIME. Archived from the original on October 8, 2010. Retrieved 2012-06-05.
  16. ↑ Davis, Marion (2010-06-07). "Five Questions With: Dr. Sandra Carson". Providence Business News. Retrieved 6 June 2012.
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