Core Curriculum

Course director: Pamela Monahan, PhD

This is a lecture-based course that provides a comprehensive survey of the structure and function of the reproductive system. Students will discuss the fundamentals of reproductive anatomy and reproductive axis function (hypothalamus-pituitary-gonadal). Specific topics covered include sex determination and differentiation, reproductive hormone signaling and action, reproductive tract, testis, and ovarian development and function, sexual response, pregnancy, and reproductive aging. Topics will be presented from molecular, cellular, and tissue perspective and will span development, puberty, adulthood, and reproductive senescence. Lectures are interactive and consist of didactic fundamentals and deep dives into the literature. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course. 

Course director: Pamela Monahan, PhD

This is a lecture and discussion-based course that explores the historical and current landscape of reproductive science and medicine and its impact on society. Students will pair knowledge of the foundations of the development and function of the reproductive system with discussions on perturbations to the reproductive system that can lead to infertility, disease, or disorders and the technologies developed that advance understanding in the field. Topics will be presented from molecular, cellular, and tissue perspectives and will span development, puberty, adulthood, and reproductive senescence. Classes are interactive and consist of literature based discussions and exploration of the current and emerging technological topics in the field. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course. 

Course directors: Lindsey Block, PhD, and Hoi Chang Lee, PhD

This is a laboratory-based course designed to provide students with exposure to a range of topics and associated technologies used in reproductive science and medicine. Experiments in this course will use the mouse, bovine, and human as important mammalian model systems.  In addition, we will use sea urchins and zebrafish. Modules will cover topics including gonad and reproductive tract architecture, gametogenesis, fertilization, and testis organoid formation. Techniques that will be taught include, but are not limited to, collection and micromanipulation of reproductive tissues and cells, cell culture, in vitro fertilization, microscopy, hormone quantification, and gene expression. Students will work in a hands-on laboratory setting and learn firsthand how to conduct experiments using the principles of the scientific method, how to document, analyze, and interpret data, and how to communicate their findings via various mechanisms. Students will also participate in a collaborative final project.   

Course director: Lindsey Block, PhD

This is a primary literature and critical thinking-based course designed to challenge students with historical, contemporary, and emerging concepts in reproductive science and medicine,  particularly around the concepts of human reproductive development and ways to regulate and restore function. Topics covered include model systems for reproductive science and medicine research, epigenetics, hormone receptor signaling and endocrine disruption, the effect of sleep, environmental toxins, cancer stem cells, and reproductive bioengineering. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course in addition to prior completion of REPR_SCI 405-0 and REPR_SCI 407-0. Students who have not completed REPR_SCI 405-0 and REPR_SCI 407-0 should contact the Center for Reproductive Science, crs@northwestern.edu, for permission to enroll. 

Course director: Mary Ellen Pavone, MD

This course exposes students to key topics in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), embryology, and andrology. The course, which is team-taught by faculty with translational and clinical expertise, covers gamete and embryo biology, assisted reproductive techniques and associated technologies, ethics, and an introduction to fertility clinic operation. Students will also have the opportunity to experience some commonly used clinical laboratory techniques in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, such as sperm processing and analysis for ART, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), time-lapse morphokinetics, embryo biopsy and genetic screening, and gamete cryopreservation and thawing. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course in addition to prior completion of REPR_SCI 405-0 and REPR_SCI 407-0. Students who have not completed REPR_SCI 405-0 and REPR_SCI 407-0 should contact the Center for Reproductive Science, CRS@northwestern.edu, for permission to enroll.

Course director: Jessica Walter, MD

This course covers human reproductive health and disease from a clinical angle – from physiology to pathology to therapeutic interventions. Aspects of both male and female reproduction are covered. The course is team-taught primarily by clinicians and physician-scientists who are experts in reproductive science and medicine and who are active in research and patient care. Topics include sexual function and dysfunction, PCOS, uterine transplants, STIs, reproductive cancers, endometriosis, pelvic floor dysfunction, pregnancy complications and more. Class sessions are interactive, and discussions focus on pathology, risk factors, diagnosis, standard of care, and the current status of research. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course in addition to prior completion of REPR_SCI 405-0 and REPR_SCI 407-0. Students who have not completed REPR_SCI 405-0 and REPR_SCI 407-0 should contact the Center for Reproductive Science, crs@northwestern.edu, for permission to enroll.

Course directors: Kara Goldman, MD, and Monica Laronda, PhD

Cancer patients are surviving their disease in increasing numbers, converting what was once a terminal diagnosis to a cure or a chronic illness. However, as survival rates increase, many patients are faced with off-target effects and complications from cancer treatments, including compromised reproductive function. These include destruction of gametes and the loss of pituitary and gonadal hormone production. It is in this setting that the discipline of Oncofertility emerged which blends the field of oncology with fertility. Oncofertility researchers are working to discover and describe the iatrogenic effects of drugs on reproductive organs and to develop strategies that will preserve and restore reproductive function. Advances in the oncology arena are being paralleled by those in reproductive medicine and science, which together are continuously improving and expanding the fertility preservation repertoire for men, women, and children. Today, "oncofertility" encompasses the study of treatments and diseases that could result in infertility and gonadal hormone insufficiency.

This lecture and case studies-based course bridges basic science and clinical knowledge to expose students to the translational advances in the field of oncofertility and fertility preservation. Course topics include fertility preservation in different populations (adult women and men, pediatrics, transgender and disorders of sex development (DSD)populations), tissue/cell processing methods (gamete and gonad harvesting, processing, cryopreservation, and storage), clinical care (patient navigation conversations, consults, cancer agent risk factors, psychological factors), fundamental biology techniques (bioengineering gonadal bioprostheses, spheroids, microphysiologic platforms, follicle culture), and ethical issues in the field. Students will also learn to evaluate complex case studies with complimentary lectures. A basic understanding of cell and molecular biology is a prerequisite for this course in addition to prior completion of REPR_SCI 405 and REPR_SCI 407. Completion of REPR_SCI 440 is also required so that students are familiar with the lab techniques that will be discussed in this course.

Course director: Giulia Vigone, PhD

The goal of this course is to provide instruction and guidance on the responsible conduct of research as it pertains to all scientific disciplines but also through the specific lens of reproductive science and medicine.  The National Institutes of Health defines the responsible conduct of research as the practice of scientific investigation with integrity. The responsible conduct of research involves the awareness and application of established professional norms and ethical principles in the performance of all activities related to research. Students will learn about and discuss a variety of topics required to perform high quality research, including rigor and reproducibility, mentoring relationships, authorship and peer review, misconduct and integrity, conflicts of interest, animals and humans in research, collaborations/team science, and social impact. Students will complete laboratory safety training and biomedical human subjects research training as part of this course. Students will demonstrate understanding of course concepts through case studies, faculty interviews, and classroom engagement. The quarter culminates in a student-driven case study discussion. Contemporary social impact issues from reproductive science are integrated throughout the class. 

Course director: Giulia Vigone, PhD

The goal of this course is to increase students’ competence in oral, written and visual science communication. Students will learn how to communicate complex topics in reproductive science and medicine to their scientific community and their peers, as well as to broad audiences including funders, policymakers, and the media. Over the course of the quarter, students will learn about the different types of writing used in the sciences and directed to various audiences. They will also prepare a visual representation of their scientific hypothesis and learn to deliver an oral presentation in the form of a 3-minute elevator pitch. Through these deliverables, students will practice writing, editing, and giving constructive criticism on written and oral assignments through peer-review and class interactions.  

This course will be co-taught with Stacey C. Tobin, PhD. Dr. Tobin is a board-certified editor in the life sciences with 19-years’ experience in biomedical writing, editing, and consulting. She received her master’s degree in molecular physiology from Vanderbilt University in 1998 and her doctorate in physiology from Northwestern University in 2003. She started her freelance biomedical writing and editing company, The Tobin Touch, Inc., in 2003, working directly with university and hospital-based investigators to prepare peer-reviewed manuscripts and grant proposals for both basic and clinical research programs. In 2011, she expanded her client base to include healthcare communications agencies and pharmaceutical companies. As a freelance biomedical writer, Stacey has produced materials in the areas of diabetes, oncology, obstetrics and gynecology, cardiac imaging, pediatrics, HIV/AIDS, neurology, immunology, diagnostics, and public health, among others. She is a member of the American Medical Writers Association, the Council of Science Editors, the Board of Editors in the Life Sciences, and the National Organization of Research Development Professionals. 

Course director: Giulia Vigone, PhD

This course is designed to provide students with skills and resources to evaluate themselves in light of their career and professional goals so that they are prepared to be well-rounded scientists. Students receive instruction on self-assessment and professional development planning. Students will identify their strengths using assessment tools and use this information to set goals to utilize strengths more effectively. To practice and understand the power of professional networking, students will identify individuals actively engaged in professions of interest and conduct informational interviews. This course also includes classes on resumes, CVs, and cover letters as well as the job search process and interviewing to provide a well-rounded approach to professional development. This course does not specifically prepare students for any one career. Rather, recognizing that professional development is a continuous process, this course provides students with the skills and resources to uncover their unique strengths relevant to the professional world of reproductive science and medicine.