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PCOS is underrecognized and underresearched—yet it’s a common cause of infertility. We look at what should be done—plus, a “lab on wheels” that brings biotech to rural students in Maine. (585 words, 2 minutes, 55 seconds) |
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Why we need to study PCOS (and women’s health generally) |
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Affecting 1 in 10 women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) remains understudied, with no dedicated treatments. Surprisingly, new diabetes and weight loss drugs may help.
What is PCOS? “A set of symptoms related to an imbalance of hormones that can affect women and girls of reproductive age,” according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Symptoms can include hirsutism, menstrual disorders, polycystic ovaries, and infertility.
Why it matters: PCOS is one of the most common causes of infertility in women—but it’s “underrecognized, underdiagnosed, and understudied,” says NIH, while reports show poor understanding by physicians.
There are no dedicated treatments for PCOS—one of the many women’s medical ailments that needs more research and investment.
A surprising finding: Ozempic and other GLP-1 receptor agonists prescribed for diabetes and weight loss have been shown by studies to affect weight, hormone imbalance, and period irregularity due to PCOS, perhaps impacting associated insulin resistance. Women with PCOS taking these drugs are reporting happy surprise pregnancies.
More federal support is needed: PCOS has not been addressed by President Biden’s executive order on women’s health, NBC News notes.
BIO’s view: “For us to improve the health of women in the United States and across the world, it is critical that NIH supports research taking advantage of the scientific opportunities that advance our understanding of the biological underpinnings of women’s health,” said Sheila Mikhail, co-chair of BIO’s Women’s Health Task Force. Learn more about what BIO’s doing to support women’s health R&D. |
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‘Lab on wheels’ brings biotech to rural students in Maine |
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With support from the Bioscience Association of Maine (BioME), educators are hitting the road to inspire future life scientists in remote parts of Maine with a bioscience lab on wheels.
What it is: Launched last month, the mobile BIOLAB is a 50-foot-long RV equipped with state-of-the-art instruments and supplies, lab benches, and space for up to 24 students at a time. The lab sets up in school parking lots around rural Maine.
How it works: BIOLAB staff deliver a life sciences curriculum supplementing existing classes through problem-based learning with real-world applications. The organizer, Educate Maine, says they’re working with the biotech industry and higher education to develop and expand training.
Why it matters: Teachers in Maine see a need to interest students in the STEM fields. “At the same time, we knew that Maine’s future economy was going to need thousands of workers in the life sciences and STEM fields,” says Kate Howell of Educate Maine.
Maine needs future life scientists, says BioME, noting a 42% increase “in high-paying bioscience jobs” in the state in the past five years. “There are 9,000 life sciences roles in the state today, and that number is growing,” Howell says.
What they’re saying: “Maine has a unique opportunity to become a thriving biotech hub, but our industry currently lacks appropriate career pathways for Maine students, especially in rural areas. The mobile lab will open doors to students that were previously unavailable,” says Agnieszka Carpenter, Executive Director of the Bioscience Association of Maine. Read more on Bio.News. |
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