Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2008

Mentor: Stephen R Hammes
Department: Internal Medicine
Room number: Y9.310
Mail Code: 8857
Phone number: 214-648-3749
E-mail: stephen.hammes@utsouthwestern.edu
Project title: Steroid Production and Signaling in the Ovary

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable):

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): 0867-01-01-1

Project Type (patient-based research, animal-based research, or basic research; this characterization is only to permit a general classification for grouping similar types of projects) Basic and Animal-based Research

Brief Description of Project:
The Hammes laboratory studies steroid synthesis and steroid actions in the ovary. We use a number of modalities to study these processes, including cell culture, molecular biology, biochemistry, and mouse genetics. In addition, since Dr. Hammes is a physician-scientist, we are always interested in relating our basic research to clinical disease.
Our laboratory has a particular interest in the regulation of androgen production in the ovary. Excess androgen production leads to polycystic ovarian syndrome, which is perhaps the leading cause of infertility in women. We are trying to discover novel targets that can be regulated to control this debilitating disease. We are also studying androgen signaling in the ovary, and have discovered selective androgen receptor modulators, or SARMs, that specifically modulate androgen signaling in the ovary. We hope to use these compounds to selectively regulate androgen effects in the ovaries of individuals with androgen excess from PCOS.
Finally, we are studying ovarian development, and have discovered a novel transcription factor that is necessary for normal follicle formation within the ovary.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

Bruce, Kristin and Hammes, S.R., Nongenomic Actions of Progesterone in Xenopus Oocytes, Poster presented at the 39th Medical Student Research Forum.
Stair, Matthew and Hammes, S.R., Differential Sensitivities of the Xenopus Androgen Receptor and the Human Androgen Receptor, Oral Presentation at the 40th Medical Student Research Forum.
Cowling, C.L., Gill, A., Lutz, L.B., Jahani, D., Rasar, M., and Hammes, S.R., The Role of the Androgen Receptor in Xenopus Laevis Oocyte Maturation, Poster presented at the 41st Medical Student Research Forum.