Dr. Ariella Shikanov

Biography

Ariella Shikanov is a Professor in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at the University of Michigan. Her research focuses on creating artificial constructs for direct tissue regeneration to restore biological functions, specifically targeting clinical issues such as premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), which results from anticancer treatments in young girls and women. POI leads to sterility and complications related to absent ovarian endocrine function, including premature osteopenia, muscle wasting, and impaired cognitive development. Dr. Shikanov aims to engineer a biomimetic environment that promotes the in vitro growth of immature follicles by integrating cellular, molecular, and physicochemical properties into a structural design that allows for the study of bi-directional interactions between follicles and supporting cells. Her lab is also interested in the molecular mechanisms involved in the early development of ovarian follicles and in developing novel 3D culture systems and immunoisolating hydrogels for ovarian follicles.

Research Interests