HELENA, MT – Carroll College has received a $128,423 subaward from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to support a multi-year research project led by Kellie O’Rourke, Ph.D., assistant professor of biology. The three-year grant, titled Dissecting the Role of Lrh1 in Phthalate-Related Reproductive Impairments: A Cellular and Molecular Approach, runs from September 1, 2025, through August 31, 2028, and supports advanced biomedical research examining how common chemicals found in plastics may interfere with reproductive health.
The subaward is part of a larger NIH-funded project totaling $521,992, conducted in collaboration with Dr. Estela Jauregui at Midwestern University. Dr. O’Rourke transferred her portion of the grant to Carroll College upon joining the faculty from Saint Catherine University. The research will be conducted entirely at Carroll and will provide undergraduate students with opportunities to participate in research typically reserved for graduate-level programs at larger universities.
As a primarily undergraduate institution, Carroll College places a strong emphasis on hands-on research as a core part of the student experience. Carroll students regularly work side by side with faculty on externally funded projects, gaining meaningful experience in experimental design, data analysis, scientific writing, and professional presentation.
“This opportunity exemplifies the strength of Carroll’s approach to undergraduate education,” said Dr. O’Rourke. “Students are participating in high-level biomedical research with real-world impact. While this work is often limited to graduate programs elsewhere, Carroll undergraduates are deeply engaged throughout the research process.”
The NIH-funded project will support undergraduate research assistants, who will help run laboratory experiments, analyze data, and co-author scientific papers. Students involved in the project will also present their findings at national scientific conferences, gaining professional experience that is uncommon at the undergraduate level.
Many everyday products, including food packaging, cosmetics, and medical supplies, contain chemicals called phthalates, which are used to make plastics flexible. These chemicals are widespread in the environment, and studies have linked them to fertility problems in both humans and animals.
Dr. O’Rourke’s research focuses on understanding how these chemicals affect Sertoli cells (the support cells in the testes). When Sertoli cells can’t function correctly, they are unable to maintain sperm production, which can lead to infertility. Scientists know these chemicals can alter fertility, but exactly how they do so remains largely unknown.
Dr. O’Rourke discovered that LRH1 expression in Sertoli cells was necessary for fertility in mice. “Dr. Jauregui and I are hypothesizing that these chemicals could be altering LRH1 expression and that could be the mechanism for infertility,” explained Dr. O’Rourke.
The research examines what happens when Sertoli cells are exposed to an active metabolite of the most commonly used plasticizer, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate and how that exposure changes the way LRH1 works.
The research seeks to answer the following questions:
- Do these chemicals change the cell cycle (cell division or cell death)?
- Do these chemicals alter gene expression?
- Can activating LRH1 help protect cells from damage?
To answer these questions, students and faculty will grow cells in the lab, expose them to the chemical, and measure changes in gene activity and cell health.
Undergraduate research at Carroll culminates each spring with the Carroll College Student Research Festival, held annually in April. During the festival, students from across disciplines, including biology, chemistry, nursing, sociology, education, and the humanities, present their research through posters, talks, and performances. The event is open to the public and highlights the breadth and depth of scholarly work happening on campus.
“This NIH award reflects the strength of Carroll College’s commitment to undergraduate research and faculty scholarship,” said Dr. Jennifer Glowienka, co-president of Carroll College. “Dr. O’Rourke’s work demonstrates how meaningful research experiences and close faculty mentorship are central to the Carroll experience.”
A first-generation college graduate of Carroll College, Dr. O’Rourke began her scientific training as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Glowienka’s lab, where she studied the vector for West Nile Virus.
“My experience with undergraduate research at Carroll was transformative. It shaped my development as both a student and a researcher,” she reflected. “I am excited to give my students that same experience.”
Over the course of the three-year project, Dr. O’Rourke and her students will publish results in peer-reviewed journals and share findings at scientific conferences. The research may help scientists better understand how environmental chemicals affect fertility and could inform future health and safety guidelines.
Just as importantly, the project will prepare Carroll students for careers in medicine, research, public health, and related fields by providing them with experience that sets them apart in graduate school and professional pathways.
To learn more about the biology program at Carroll College, visit www.carroll.edu/biology.
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