The Kim Lab
We focus on understanding how cancer treatments affect reproductive function in cancer patients, a field known as Oncofertility. Over the past thirty years, the survival rate for young cancer patients has significantly improved, allowing many young cancer survivors to lead relatively normal lives.However, cancer therapies can have long-term negative effects on various organ systems, including the reproductive system. One of the most serious side effects for young women undergoing cancer treatment is the loss of ovarian follicles. This loss reduces the number of ova (female germ cells or eggs) available for future fertility and affects the production of essential steroid hormones such as estrogen and progesterone.These hormones are vital for normal menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and overall hormonal balance. Young women receiving cancer treatment may experience primary ovarian insufficiency, which clinically presents as endocrine dysfunction and infertility. For instance, prepubertal girls may fail to initiate puberty and require medical therapies to support their normal development. Reproductive-age women may experience disrupted menstrual cycles, endocrine issues, and the inability to conceive. Developing effective interventions to prevent the loss of ovarian follicles could greatly enhance the quality of life for young cancer patients. Current research indicates that certain fertility-preserving interventions, known as "fertoprotective" therapies, may help protect ovarian follicles from the damaging effects of cancer treatments. However, the mechanisms by which these fertoprotective therapies work are not yet fully understood. Dr. Kim aims to clarify how cancer treatments deplete ovarian follicles, create new therapeutic agents based on the mechanisms of follicle depletion, and align fertoprotective strategies with specific cancer treatments to preserve ovarian follicles and maintain fertility.
The Kim Lab
The Kim Lab
Current Kim Lab Members
So-Youn Kim, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of OBGYN & Reproductive Health
Center for Immunity and Inflammation
Center for Cell Signaling
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, E-567
Newark, NJ 07103
973-972-3385
Membership
1. Society for the Study of Reproduction
2. The ENDO SocietyEditorial Board
1. Associate Editor at Journal of Ovarian Research (JOR)
2. A member of the Board of Reviewing Editors for the journal Biology of Reproduction (BOR)
Amirhossein Abazarikia, Ph.D.
Instructor
Department of OBGYN & Reproductive Health
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Wonmi So, Ph.D.
Instructor
Department of OBGYN & Reproductive Health
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Mahsa Rasekhi, Ph.D.
Research Associate
Department of OBGYN & Reproductive Health
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
ALUMNI
Maya Eldani, B.S.
(2018-2020)
Technologist
Pauline C. Xu, M.D., Ph.D.
(2019-2022)
M.D., Ph.D. Student
Yi Luan, Ph.D.
(2019-2022)
Ph.D. Student
Rosemary Dong, B.S.
(Feb.2022-Jan.2023)
Technologist
Seok-Young Yu, Ph.D.
(2021-2023)
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ibrahim Elesh, Ph.D.
(Oct.2020-Sep.2021)
Postdoctoral fellow
Macy Thonen, M.D.
(June-August, 2022)
MSSRP student
Heng Jiang, M.D.
(2022)
Medical Student
Amelia Polody, B.S.
(June-August, 2021)
SURP student
Emma Morris, Ph.D.
(June-August, 2024)
SURP student
Christopher Oh, B.S.
(June-August, 2023)
SURP Student
Ryan Chae
(June-August, 2024)
Summer Intern High
School Student
Paulina Gilgenast
(June-August, 2025)
Summer Intern College Student
Ashley Pak, M.D.
(Feb.2022-Jan.2023)
Medical Student
Amrita Purkayastha, M.D.
(Jan-Dec, 2025)
Medical Student
The Kim Lab
The Kim Lab
The Kim Lab
2026
1. Abazarikia A, Purkayastha A, So W, Kim SY. Existing and emerging strategies for fertility preservation in leukemia patients. Frontier in Endocrinology. 2026 (Accepted)
2. So W, Pak A, Abazarikia A, Chemerinski A, Douglas N, Kim SY. Role of KIT signaling in ovarian development and function: Insights from multisystem biology. Biol Reprod 2026 Mar 13:ioag061 (PMID: 41823673)
3. Kuss M, Krishnan MA, So W, Kim SY, Duan B. Development of a spatially defined 3D in vitro co-culture construct modeling pancreatic cancer-associated cachexia. (Kim and Duan: *Co-corresponding author). Biofabrication 2026 Apr 15 (PMID: 41985529)2025
1. Song YS, Zhang J, Bo Y, Zhang Q, Kim SY, Xiao S. DNA damage response signaling in oocytes from an oncofertility perspective. Biol Reprod 2025 Sep 12:ioaf207 (PMID: 40966604)
2. Abazarikia A, So W, Luan Y, Kattamuri C, Thompson TB, Kim SY. Pancreatic damage in ovarian cancer-associated cachexia is driven by activin A signaling. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2025 Oct;16 (PMCID: PMC12512902)
3. So W, Dong R, Lee D, Abazarikia A, Hackfort BT, Cupp AS, Kim SY. Primordial follicle survival and changes in ovarian vasculature may be independently regulated during Chemotherapy. Endocrinology. 2025 May 24 (PMCID: PMC12006718)
4. Abazarikia A, Luan Y, So W, Becker M, Panda S, Swenson SA, Kosmacek EA, Oberley-Deegan RE, Xiao S, Hyde RK, Kim SY. Leukemic cells infiltrate the ovaries without damaging ovarian reserve in an acute myeloid leukemia mouse model. Endocrinology. 2025 Feb 27 (PMCID: PMC11890401)2024
1. Abazarikia A, So W, Xiao S, Kim SY. Oocyte death is triggered by the stabilization of TAp63a dimers in response to cisplatin. Cell Death Dis. 2024 Nov 7;15(11):799 (PMCID:PMC11544165)
2. Luan Y, So W, Dong R, Abazarikia A, Kim SY. KIT in oocytes: a key factor for oocyte survival and reproductive lifespan. (Luan and So: Co-first authors) EBioMedicine. 2024 Aug;106:105263 (PMCID: PMC11338130)
3. So W, Abazarikia A, Zelinski MB, Kim SY. Sodium thiosulfate does not protect ovarian reserve from cisplatin-induced gonadotoxicity. Biol Reprod 2024 Apr 11;110(4);772-781 (PMCID: PMC11017129)
4. Yu SY, Luan Y, Xu PC, Zhang Y, Dong R, Abazarikia A, Kim SY. Metabolic characteristics of granulosa cell tumor: role of PPARγ signaling. Biol Reprod 2024 Mar 13;110(3):509-520 (PMCID: PMC10941086)2023
1. Yu SY, Luan Y, Tang S, Abazarikia A, Dong R, Caffrey TC, Hollingsworth MA, Oupicky D, Kim SY. Uncovering tumor- promoting roles of activin A in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Adv Sci (Weinh) 2023 Jun;10(16);e2207010. (PMCID: PMC10238186)
2. Kung CP, Skiba MB, Crosby EJ, Gorzelitz J, Kennedy MA, Kerr BA, Li YR, Nash S, Potiaumpai M, Kleckner AS, James DL, Coleman MF, Fairman CM, Galván GC, Garcia DO, Gordon MJ, His M, Hornbuckle LM, Kim SY, Kim TH, Kumar A, Mahé M, McDonnell KK, Moore J, Oh S, Sun X, Irwin ML. Key takeaways for knowledge expansion of early-career scientists conducting transdisciplinary research in energetics and cancer (TREC): a report from the TREC training workshop 2022. J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr. 2023 May 4;2023(61):149-157. (PMCID: PMC10157760)
3. Kim SY, Xu K, Mayerhofer A, Bishop CV. Editorial: Small molecules and peptides in paracrine/autocrine regulation of ovarian folliculogenesis. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne). 2023;14:1168701. (PMCID: PMC10023699)
4. Johnson J, Kim SY, Sam PK, Asokan R, Cari EL, Bales ES, Luu TH, Perez L, Kallen AN, Nel-Themaat L, Polotsky AJ, Post MD, Orlicky DJ, Jordan KR, Bitler BG. Expression and T cell regulatory action of the PD-1 immune checkpoint in the ovary and fallopian tube. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2023 Mar;89(3);e13649. (PMCID: PMC10559227)
5. Iwahata H, Kim SY, Iwahata Y, Suzuki N, Woodruff TK. Thyroid hormone triiodothyronine does not protect ovarian reserve from DNA damage induced by X-ray and cisplatin. J Assist Reprod Genet. 2023 Mar;40(3):481-490. (PMCID: PMC10033774)2022
1. Luan Y, Yu SY, Abazarikia A, Dong R, Kim SY. TAp63 determines the fate of oocytes against DNA damage. Sci Adv. 2022 Dec 21;8(51):eade1846. (PMCID: PMC9770984)
2. Yu SY, Luan Y, Dong R, Abazarikia A, Kim SY. Adipose tissue wasting as a determinant of pancreatic cancer-related cachexia. Cancers (Basel). 2022 Sep 29;14(19). (PMCID: PMC9563866)
3. Yu SY, Luan Y, Abazarikia A, Dong R, Lee J., Kim SY. Oocyte CTR1 is not essential for cisplatin-induced oocyte death of primordial follicle. MicroPubl Biol. 2022;2022. eCollection 2022. (PMCID: PMC9478746)
4. Xue W, Yu SY, Kuss M, Kong Y, Shi W, Chung S, Kim SY, Duan B. 3D bioprinted white adipose model for in vitro study of cancer-associated cachexia induced adipose tissue remodeling. Biofabrication. 2022 May 26;14(3). (co-Corresponding author) (PMCID: PMC9205601)
5. Luan Y, Zhang Y, Yu SY, You M, Xu PC, Chung SK, Kurita T, Zhu J, Kim SY. Development of ovarian tumor causes significant loss of muscle and adipose tissue: a novel mouse model for cancer cachexia study. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle. 2022 Apr;13(2);1289-1301 (PMCID: PMC8977964)
6. Du Y, Carranza Z, Luan Y, Busman-Sahay K, Wolf S, Campbell SP, Kim SY, Pejovic T, Estes JD, Zelinski M, Xu J. Evidence of cancer therapy-induced chronic inflammation in the ovary across multiple species: A potential cause of persistent tissue damage and follicle depletion. J Reprod Immunol 2022 Mar;150:103491 (PMCID: PMC9224575)
7. Xu PC, You M, Yu SY, Luan Y, Eldani M, Caffrey TC, Grandgenett PM, O’Connell KA, Shukla SK, Kattamuri C, Hollingsworth MA, Singh PK, Thompson TB, Chung S, Kim SY. Visceral adipose tissue remodeling in pancreatic ductal adnenocarcinoma cachexia: the role of activin A signaling. Sci Rep 2022 Jan 31;12(1):1659 (PMCID: PMC8803848)2021
1. Xu PC, Luan Y, Yu SY, Xu J, Coulter DW, Kim SY. Effects of PD-1 blockade on ovarian follicles in prepubertal female mouse. J Endocrinol 2021 Nov 24;252(1):15-30 (PMCID: PMC8630981)
2. Luan Y, Xu P, Yu SY, Kim SY. The role of mutant p63 in female fertility. Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Aug 20;22(16) (PMCID: PMC8396438)
3. Kim SY, Gross JP, Gondi V, Pankuch M, Wagner S, Grover A, Luan Y, Woodruff TK. Proton radiotherapy to preserve fertility and endocrine function: A translational investigation. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2021 Jan 1;109(1):84-94 (PMID: 32758642) (Co-first authors)2020
1. Eldani M, Luan Y, Xu PC, Barger T, Kim SY. Continuous treatment with cisplatin induces the oocyte death of primordial follicles without activation. FASEB J 2020 Oct;34(10):13885-13899 (PMCID: PMC7722145)
2. Cho GJ, Kim SY, Lee HC, Kim HY, Lee KM, Han SW, Oh MJ. Association between dental caries and adverse pregnancy outcomes. Sci Rep 2020 Mar 24;10(1):5309 (PMCID: PMC7093420)
3. Fan R, Kim J, You M, Giraud D, Toney AM, Shin SH, Kim SY, Borkowski K, Newman JW, Chung S. a-Linolenic acid-enriched butter attenuated high fat diet-induced insulin resistance and inflammation by promoting bioconversion of n-3 PUFA and subsequent oxylipin formation. J Nutr Biochem 2020 Feb;76:108285 (PMCID: PMC6995772)2019
1. Kim SY, Cho GJ, Davis JS. Consequences of chemotherapeutic agents on primordial follicles and future applications. Obstet Gynecol Sci. 2019 Nov;62(6):382-390 (PMCID: PMC6856479)
2. Lee J, Lee HC, Kim SY, Cho GJ, Woodruff TK. Poorly-controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus impairs LH-LHCGR signaling in the ovaries and decreases female fertility in mice. Yonsei Med J 2019 Jul;60(7):667-678 (PMCID: PMC6597468)
3. Cho GJ, Kim SY, Lee HC, Lee KM, Han SW, Oh MJ, Woodruff TK. Risk of adverse obstetric outcomes and the abnormal growth of offspring in women with a history of thyroid cancer. Thyroid 2019 Jun;29(6):879-885 (PMCID: PMC8917897)
4. Kim SY, Nair DM, Romero M, Serna VA, Koleske AJ, Woodruff TK, Kurita T. Transient inhibition of p53 homologs protects ovarian function from two distinct apoptotic pathways triggered by anticancer therapies. Cell Death Differ 2019 Mar;26(3):502-515 (Corresponding author) (PMCID: PMC6370889)
5. Luan Y, Edmonds ME, Woodruff TK, Kim SY. Inhibitors of apoptosis protect the ovarian reserve from cyclophosphamide. J Endocrinol 2019 Feb 1;240(2):243-256. (Corresponding author) (PMCID: PMC6540791)~2018 (Before the Kim Lab)
1. Kim SY, Kurita T. New Insights into the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase activity in the physiology of immature oocytes: Lessons from recent mouse model studies. Eur Med J Reprod Health 2018 Jun;3(2):119-125 (PMCID: PMC6147255)
2. Rai R, Ghosh AK, Eren M, Mackie AR, Levine DC, Kim SY, Cedernaes J, Ramirez V, Procissi D, Smith LH, Woodruff TK, Bass J, Vaughan DE. Downregulation of the apelinergic axis accelerates aging, whereas its systemic restoration improves the mammalian healthspan. Cell Rep 2017 Nov 7;21(6):1471-1480 (PMCID: PMC5892413)
3. Kim SY, Ebbert K, Cordeiro MH, Romero MM, Whelan KA, Suarez AA, Woodruff TK, Kurita T. Constitutive activation of PI3K in oocyte induces ovarian granulosa cell tumors. Cancer Res 2016 Jul 1;76(13):3851-61. (Corresponding and First author) (PMCID: PMC5081136)
4. Kim SY, Lee JR. Fertility preservation option in young women with ovarian cancer. Future Oncol 2016 Jul;12(14):1695-8 (PMCID: PMC5549777)
5. Kim SY, Kim SK, Lee JR, Woodruff TK. Ovary is necessary to the health of uterus. J Gynecol Oncol 2016 May;27(3):e35 (PMCID: PMC4823365)
6 Kim SY. Insights into granulosa cell tumors using spontaneous or genetically engineered mouse models. Clin Exp Reprod Med 2016 Mar;43(1):1-8 (PMCID: PMC4838576)
7. Kim SY, Kim SK, Lee JR, Woodruff TK. Toward precision medicine for preserving fertility in cancer patients: existing and emerging fertility preservation options for women. J Gynecol Oncol 2016 Mar;27(2):e22 (Corresponding and First author) (PMCID: PMC4717227)
8. Cordeiro MH, Kim SY, Ebbert K, Duncan FE, Ramalho-Santos J, Woodruff TK. Geography of follicle formation in the embryonic mouse ovary impacts activation pattern during the first wave of folliculogenesis. Biol Reprod 2015 Oct;93(4):88 (PMCID: PMC4711906)
9. Kim SY, Ebbert K, Cordeiro MH, Romero M, Zhu J, Serna VA, Whelan KA, Woodruff TK, Kurita T. Cell autonomous phosphoinositide 3-kinase in oocytes disrupts normal ovarian function through promoting survival and overgrowth of ovarian follicles. Endocrinology 2015 Apr;156(4):1464-76 (Corresponding and First author) (PMCID: PMC4399322)
10. Kim SY, Cordeiro MH, Serna VA, Ebbert K, Butler LM, Sinha S, Mills AA, Woodruff TK, and Kurita T. Rescue of platinum-damaged oocytes from programmed cell death through inactivation of the p53 family signaling network. Cell Death Differ 2013 Aug;20(8):987-97 (PMCID: PMC3705595)
11. Kim SY, Zhu J, Woodruff TK. A truncated, activin-induced Smad3 isoform acts as a transcriptional repressor of FSH beta expression in mouse pituitary. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2011 Aug 6;342(1-2):64-72 (PMCID: PMC3164581)
12. Kim SY, Weiss J, Tong M, Laronda MM, Lee EJ, Jameson JL. Foxl2, a forkhead transcription factor, modulates nonclassical activity of the estrogen receptor-alpha. Endocrinology 2009 Nov;150(11):5085-93 (PMCID: PMC2775987)
13. Song YD, Lee EJ, Yashar P, Pfaff LE, Kim SY, Jameson JL. Islet cell differentiation in liver by combinatorial expression of transcription factors neurogenin-3, BETA2, and RIPE3b1. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2007 Mar 9;354(2):334-9 (PMID: 17239820)
14. Im SS, Kim SY, Kim HI, Ahn YH. Transcriptional regulation of glucose sensors in pancreatic beta cells and liver. Curr Diabetes Rev 2006 Feb;2(1):11-8 (PMID: 18220613)
15. Im SS, Kang SY, Kim SY, Kim HI, Kim JW, Kim KS, Ahn YH. Glucose-stimulated upregulation of GLUT2 gene is mediated by sterol response element-binding protein-1c in the hepatocytes. Diabetes 2005 Jun;54(6):1684-91 (PMID: 15919789)
16. Im SS, Kim JW, Kim TH, Song XL, Kim SY, Kim HI, Ahn YH. Identification and characterization of peroxisome proliferator response element in the mouse GLUT2 promoter. Exp Mol Med. 2005 Apr 30;37(2):101-10 (PMID: 15886523)
17. Kim SY, Kim HI, Kim TH, Im SS, Park SK, Lee, IK, Kim KS, Ahn YH. SREBP-1c mediates the insulin-dependent hepatic glucokinase expression. J Biol Chem 2004 Jul 16;279(29): 30823-9 (PMID: 15123649)
18. Kim SY, Kim HI, Park SK, Im SS, Li T, Cheon HG, Ahn YH. Liver glucokinase can be activated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma. Diabetes 2004 Feb;53 Suppl 1:S66-70 (PMID: 14749268)
19. Cha JY, Kim HS, Kim HI, Im SS, Kim SY, Kim JW, Yeh BI, Ahn YH. Analysis of polymorphism of the GLUT2 promoter in NIDDM patients and its functional consequence to the promoter activity. Ann Clin Lab Sci 2002 Spring;32(2):114-22 (PMID: 12017192)
20. Kim HI, Cha JY, Kim SY, Kim JW, Roh KJ, Seong JK, Lee NT, Choi KY, Kim KS, Ahn YH. Peroxisomal proliferator-activated receptor-gamma upregulates glucokinase gene expression in beta-cells. Diabetes 2002 Mar;51(3):676-85 (PMID: 11872666)
The Kim Lab
Address
Department of OBGYN & Reproductive Health
Center for Immunity and Inflammation
Center for Cell Signaling
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
185 South Orange Avenue, MSB, E-567
Newark, NJ 07103
973-972-3385