Susan Wray, Ph.D.

About 10% to 15% of reproductive-age people in the United States report fertility problems or difficulty conceiving. Understanding the GnRH neuroendocrine system, the specialized brain cells that control reproduction – puberty, fertility, and hormone balance – is the focus of the research in this laboratory. GnRH neurons originate in the nasal placode and during prenatal development migrate into the brain. Once within the brain, GnRH neurons become integral components of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis and exhibit pulses of GnRH secretion in reproductively mature animals. Alterations in normal development or regulation of the GnRH system results in reproductive dysfunctions, as is seen in patients with Kallman Syndrome.

Our goal is to document how GnRH cells change through reproductive stages (immature, pubertal, adult and senescence) and how these cells communicate with the rest of the body throughout these stages. Furthermore, the dysfunction or natural decline of these cells with aging is linked to broader health issues, including cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's disease. By uncovering how these vital cells operate and interact with other bodily systems, this work will improve the treatment of infertility and hormone-driven disorders, while also opening new avenues for addressing age-related cognitive decline.

Research includes: 1) signals for proper craniofacial development, 2) guidance factors that modulate neuronal migration and 3) deciphering the cellular characteristics underlying GnRH physiology at different developmental, metabolic and/or reproductive states. Research models include nasal explants, slice cultures, immortalized GnRH cell lines, and normal, cre/lox and transgenic mice. Approaches include videomicroscopy, calcium imaging, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, in situ histochemistry, single-cell PCR, and subtractive cDNA screening. Together, these models and approaches are used to manipulate the GnRH system.

Dr. Wray received her B.A. degree from Middlebury College and her M.S, and Ph.D. degrees from University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry where she worked on development of neuroendocrine systems associated with puberty. She continued her work on neuroendocrine systems as a postdoctoral fellow with Harold Gainer in NICHD. In 1992 she became a faculty member of NINDS as a Unit Chief in the Laboratory of Neurochemistry and in 1999 became Chief of the newly created Cellular and Developmental Neurobiology Section. She is a council member of the International Society of Neuroendocrinology and a founding member of the American Neuroendocrine Society. Dr. Wray's laboratory is studying developmental cues underlying neuronal migration, and neurogenesis and regulation of neuroendocrine cells essential for reproduction.