Marla Lujan

Marla Lujan received her Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy in Physiology from Queen’s University (Kingston, Ontario). She conducted her postdoctoral studies in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Saskatchewan prior to joining the Division of Nutritional Sciences at Cornell in 2008.

Her group investigates the link between nutrition, metabolism and fertility in women. Specific interests include understanding mechanisms that lead to loss of regular menstrual cycles (amenorrhea) in  women as well as improving the diagnosis and treatment of polycystic ovary syndrome – a condition of impaired fertility that is tightly linked to insulin resistance and excess male hormone production. Her group uses high-resolution ovarian ultrasonography to charcterize follicle development during natural cycles in women with variable reproductive potential and metabolic status across the lifespan. By understanding mechanisms that govern amenorrhea, the goal of her laboratory is to develop nutritional, lifestyle and pharmaceutical regimens that promote and preserve reproductive health in women.