Center for Reproductive Longevity and Equality

While aging research is seeing unprecedented acceleration, how and why women undergo a decline in reproductive function with age is understudied. Thanks to a significant gift from Nicole Shanahan, the Buck has established the Center for Reproductive Longevity and Equality (CRLE). This is the first facility anywhere in the world focused solely on reproductive longevity and equality as it relates to aging and ending the threat of age-related disease.

Our goal is to conduct basic research to understand the mechanisms of female reproductive aging and develop strategies to prevent or delay ovarian aging. The end of fertility sets off a cascade of negative health effects in women’s bodies that impact bone, cognitive, cardiovascular and immune function. We want to understand why human women undergo a decline in fertility (menopause), why it varies between individuals, and why it correlates with life span. We think that understanding the limits on mammalian female reproductive capacity may provide important clues about aging in other tissues, as many hallmarks of aging are shared between somatic cells and oocytes. We collaborate with research groups around the world and promote open access data sharing.