Teresa K. Woodruff joined an elite group of Americans who received two National Medals of Honor when President Joe Biden announcement the latest recipients of the National Medal of Science on January 3.
Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, presented the medal to Woodruff during a ceremony at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington, D.C., the same day.
Created in 1959 by the American Congress and administered for the White House by the National Science Foundation, the National Science Medal is the highest recognition the country can give to scientists and engineers. A White House statement said “those who win these awards embody the promise of America by pushing the boundaries of what is possible.” These pioneers harnessed the power of science and technology to solve difficult problems and bring innovative solutions to Americans and communities around the world.
The first person from the University of Michigan to receive the National Medal of Science, Woodruff has made significant global contributions to scientific research, improving the scientific process, and expanding research teams. Woodruff, who also received a Presidential Award for Excellence in Mentoring in Science, Mathematics and Engineering in 2011, is a professor at the MSU Research Foundation at Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at MSU College of Human Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering at MSU College of Engineering. She was named MSU dean in August 2020 and served as the university’s interim president from 2022 to 2024.
Woodruff’s scientific work focuses on the female reproductive system. She has made breakthroughs in the fields of molecular science, reproductive medicine and cancer research. Three independent discoveries from his laboratory have been cited as “Discoveries of the Year” by Discover magazine and one by the Chinese Academy of Medicine. She has more than 30 years of experience in leadership positions, including interim president of Michigan State University.
“Teresa Woodruff is an exceptional scientist, leader and humanitarian,” said MSU President Kevin Guskiewicz. “His research into oncofertility has given thousands of patients and their families hope for a better future. Throughout her journey, she has mentored hundreds of students at all levels and on all occasions. And of course, Spartans everywhere appreciated her service as interim president of MSU. I was honored to follow in his footsteps.
Woodruff created a whole new field of science – oncofertility – which combines oncology and reproductive health. And she mobilized to include more women in the scientific process, which led to winning awards for mentorship. Today, she is one of the world’s leading fertility experts.
“I am honored to receive this award,” said Woodruff. “I have had the honor and pleasure of working with so many students and collaborators throughout my career. My fundamental belief is that science should help tomorrow’s patients be treated better than those of today. This means that we must put our discoveries to the service of patients’ needs. And that means expanding the pool of researchers in the field, advancing our discoveries from the bench to the bedside, and expanding the corridors of communication between physician groups and others in the health care industry.
Curiosity and intuition led to a new science
Woodruff opened her lab in 1995 at Northwestern University, where she completed graduate studies. In 2002, she was named associate director for basic research at the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. One patient stands out in his mind, a teenage cancer patient who was brought in by his mother because she wanted to bank his sperm.
“It was really interesting because no one was talking about how to support the fertility of cancer patients,” Woodruff said. “I was wondering what we were doing for young women with cancer and was told it was more important for girls and young women to focus on their cancer care. It was a light bulb moment for me. I believed that all young cancer patients should have a fertile future because we treat them with the hope of their survival.
Woodruff then applied his findings in reproductive science to the field newly called “oncofertility.” This work has helped thousands of people around the world maintain and protect their fertility. She also established the Oncofertility Consortiuman international interdisciplinary initiative of approximately 1,400 members that supports the reproductive futures of young cancer survivors.
“I can’t escape the reproductive issues and fundamental questions that remain,” Woodruff said. “Reproductive science is an understudied field, so you need to be fearless and willing to take bold steps to make a difference in people’s lives. »
Additional findings from Woodruff and his collaborator, MSU Research Foundation professor Thomas O’Halloraninclude the “zinc spark“, which is a key indicator of the successful fertilization of human eggs and the eventual quality of the embryo. This research has provided new understanding of the early stages of human development and could lead to improved techniques for in vitro fertilization. It was named #47 in the Top 100 Discoveries of 2016 by Discover magazine.