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University of Missouri

Lei Lei, PhD

Lei Lei Portrait

Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, School of Medicine
Adjunct Professor, Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Science

NextGen Focus Area: Ovarian function and fertility preservation

Lei Lei’s research focuses on ovarian function and diseases. Her team employs multidisciplinary research approaches and models to achieve several key objectives: 1) to understand how intercellular organelle transport during fetal oocyte differentiation affects fertility in adulthood; 2) to characterize organelle-mediated RNA storage and its role in maintaining oocyte dormancy and ovarian function; and 3) to investigate the cellular origin and microenvironment factors that lead to the onset of ovarian cancer.

Precision Health Impact:

  • Unveil the mechanisms underlying the developmental origins of ovarian dysfunction, such as primary ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovarian syndrome.
  • Identify biomarkers for the early detection and diagnosis of ovarian dysfunction, aging, and cancer.
  • Uncover therapeutic targets for precision medical interventions aimed at preserving fertility in female cancer patients.

Publications:

Goldenberg C, Krell K, Miranda ED, Ko S, Demirchian M, Dyer GA, et al. Assessing the socio-geographic and lifestyle factors impacting epithelial ovarian cancer outcomes: a retrospective study based on county health ranking in Missouri. Gynecol Oncol Rep. 2025 Dec;62:101969. doi:10.1016/j.gore.2025.101969 PubMed PMID: 41140611; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC12550719.

Ikami K, Shoffner-Beck S, Tyczynska Weh M, Schnell S, Yoshida S, Diaz Miranda EA, et al. Branched germline cysts and female-specific cyst fragmentation facilitate oocyte determination in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2023 May 16;120(20):e2219683120. doi:10.1073/pnas.2219683120 PubMed PMID: 37155904; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC10194012.

Lei L, Spradling AC. Mouse oocytes differentiate through organelle enrichment from sister cyst germ cells. Science. 2016 Apr 1;352(6281):95–9. doi:10.1126/science.aad2156 PubMed PMID: 26917595; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC6910648.

Yan H, Miranda EAD, Jin S, Wilson F, An K, Godbee B, et al. Primary oocytes with cellular senescence features are involved in ovarian aging in mice. Sci Rep. 2024 Jun 13;14(1):13606. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-64441-6 PubMed PMID: 38871781; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11176158.

Lei L, Ikami K, Diaz Miranda EA, Ko S, Wilson F, Abbott H, et al. The mouse Balbiani body regulates primary oocyte quiescence via RNA storage. Commun Biol. 2024 Oct 2;7(1):1247. doi:10.1038/s42003-024-06900-4 PubMed PMID: 39358443; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC11447053.

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Email: lln34@health.missouri.edu
Department website: https://medicine.missouri.edu/faculty/lei-lei-phd