Former CRS Director, Dr. Teresa Woodruff receives National Medal of Science honor
Dr. Woodruff has been an extraordinary leader, mentor, and colleague, whose guidance and collaboration have profoundly influenced the lives and careers of those around her.
Julie Kim, PhD, CRS Co-Director
On January 3, 2025, Dr. Teresa Woodruff, former CRS Director and Northwestern faculty, received the National Medal of Science honor at the White House for her innovative oncofertility work. Established in 1959 by the U.S. Congress, the National Medal of Science is the highest recognition the nation can bestow on scientists and engineers. Dr. Woodruff pioneered the field of oncofertility in 2006 which is now a recognized medical discipline. This is a major honor for Dr. Woodruff and the CRS community is so proud of all her amazing accomplishments.
Current CRS Co-Directors, Dr. Julie Kim, and Dr. Francesca Duncan, a former trainee of Dr. Woodruff’s, praised Dr. Woodruff’s achievements. Dr. Kim said “[Dr. Woodruff] has left an indelible mark on the field of reproductive science through her leadership at Northwestern University's Center for Reproductive Science. Dr. Woodruff's scientific achievements include globally recognized breakthroughs in molecular science, reproductive health, and cancer research, as well as her innovative "zinc spark" discovery. Beyond her scientific contributions, Dr. Woodruff has been an extraordinary leader, mentor, and colleague, whose guidance and collaboration have profoundly influenced the lives and careers of those around her. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and inclusivity continues to shape the future of science and inspire generations at Northwestern’s Center for Reproductive Science.”
Dr. Duncan echoed similar praise and remarked “It is a major accomplishment in one's scientific career to have an impact on a field and those individuals it serves. Teresa has not only done this once, but she has done it repeatedly - from her work in the endocrinology of inhibin to her coalescing the field of oncofertility to the discovery of the role of zinc in reproductive biology and engineering the female reproductive tract-on-a-chip. Teresa has translated her work from bench-to-bedside all the while training and inspiring the next generation of leaders in the field. Our scientific future in reproductive science and medicine is bright because of Teresa, and all of us at the Center for Reproductive Science are incredibly proud of her and this well-deserved honor and recognition.”
Dr. Kelly Mayo, current Dean of The Graduate School at Northwestern, and former CRS Director, said “Teresa’s superpower is the ability to bring diverse ideas, approaches, and people together to form collaborative and synergistic teams able to approach the most challenging and important problems. This is at the heart of what she did with the establishment of the field of oncofertility. Not only within her lab group, but across CRS, the country, and indeed, the world. What a wonderful and well-deserved honor this is for Teresa!” Dr. Woodruff was also a graduate student in Dr. Mayo’s lab when she began her studies at Northwestern illustrating how tight-knit and supportive the CRS community is of all its trainees.
Lastly, Dr. Erwin Goldberg, faculty emeritus at Northwestern and active member of the CRS community concluded “It is recognition that she truly deserves. I've known Teresa since her graduate days at Northwestern. She's a scientist for the ages.”
To read more about Dr. Woodruff and the Oncofertility Consortium, visit https://oncofertility.msu.edu/.