Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory, gynaecological disease characterized by growth of endometrial tissue (lesions) outside of the uterus. Affecting 6-10% of reproductive-aged women, endometriosis is a leading global cause of pelvic pain and infertility. Despite decades of research, diagnosis continues to rely of invasive laparoscopy and treatment options transiently alleviate symptoms, but do not cure endometriosis. Although the cause of the disease is largely unknown, previous studies demonstrate that endometriotic lesion survival is associated with chronic inflammation and increased immune cell infiltration within the peritoneal cavity. Notably, recruitment of neutrophils, the most abundant white blood cells, is increased in endometriosis. Traditionally, neutrophils have been recognized as short-lived antagonists of microbial infection and innate mediators of acute inflammation. Recently, emerging evidence has shown that neutrophils are also key regulators and promoters of chronic inflammation in cancer and various chronic inflammatory diseases. In the context of endometriosis, however, the functional role of neutrophils has not been established. Thus, using patient samples, established cell lines, and a mouse model of endometriosis, we will characterize the role of neutrophils in endometriosis, with a specific focus on neutrophil involvement in inflammation and lesion development. This knowledge will significantly contribute to our understanding of how innate immune cells are involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis, thereby identifying novel therapeutic approaches to ultimately improve health and quality of life in women with this debilitating disease.