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Jodi Flaws

Di-isononyl phthalate disrupts pregnancy in mice, study finds

August 30, 2023

We are constantly exposed to phthalates in our environment through plastic products such as storage containers, medical devices, packages, fabrics, and toys. Specifically, di-isononyl phthalate is inevitably becoming a part of our lives. Unfortunately, the impact of DiNP on the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy is largely unknown. In a new study, researchers used mice to understand how DiNP affects pregnancy.


August 30, 2023


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Study models the causes of insomnia in menopausal women

March 13, 2023

One of the most common symptoms that women experience during menopause is sleep disruption. Although this change is thought to be associated with depression, hot flashes, and fluctuating hormone levels, few studies have investigated whether they actually influence sleep. In a new study, published in Journal of Women’s Health, researchers have modeled what factors influence sleep in menopausal women.


March 13, 2023


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Prenatal exposure to phthalates damages reproductive tissue in female mice

December 16, 2021

Phthalates are a ubiquitous family of chemicals that are used every day. In a new study, researchers have investigated how these compounds affect tissue development in the reproductive systems of female mice offspring.

“Phthalates are found everywhere: building products, personal care products, food and beverage containers, and medical equipment,” said Jodi Flaws (EIRH co-leader/MME), a professor of comparative biosciences. “My research group focuses on how exposure to these environmental chemicals during pregnancy affect the offspring.”


December 16, 2021


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Supporting research on reproductive health through the Director’s Innovation Fund

December 14, 2021

The Director’s Innovation Fund was initiated in 2019 by Scott Fisher, an Illinois alumnus. He wanted to honor his late wife Bonita J. Fisher, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis—a neurological disease that affects millions of people, but has no known cures.


December 14, 2021


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Environmental contaminants alter gut microbiome, health

May 22, 2020

The microbes that inhabit our bodies are influenced by what we eat, drink, breathe and absorb through our skin, and most of us are chronically exposed to natural and human-made environmental contaminants. In a new paper, scientists from Illinois review the research linking dozens of environmental chemicals to changes in the gut microbiome and associated health challenges.

The review is published in the journal Toxicological Sciences.


May 22, 2020


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Fatty acids rewire cells to promote obesity-related breast cancer

March 13, 2019

Scientists at the University of Illinois have found that free fatty acids in the blood appear to boost proliferation and growth of breast cancer cells. The finding could help explain obese women’s elevated risk of developing breast cancer after menopause.


March 13, 2019


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