Carroll College wins federal research award, studies plastic chemicals and fertility

Carroll College announced on December 17, 2025 that it received a $128,423 subaward from the National Institutes of Health to support a multi year research project led by Kellie O’Rourke Ph.D., assistant professor of biology. The subaward runs from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028 and is part of a larger NIH funded collaboration totaling $521,992 with Dr. Estela Jauregui at Midwestern University.

The study will investigate how phthalates, a class of chemicals commonly found in plastics, may interfere with reproductive health by altering LRH1 expression and Sertoli cell function, mechanisms that are linked to sperm production and fertility. Researchers will explore specific questions about effects on the cell cycle, gene expression, and whether activation of LRH1 can protect cells from chemical insult. The laboratory work will take place at Carroll and will engage undergraduate students directly in experiments, data analysis, manuscript coauthorship, and conference presentations.

For Lewis and Clark County the project carries both educational and public health significance. Carroll’s emphasis on undergraduate research experience means local students gain laboratory skills and scientific credentials that can strengthen the county workforce in health science, environmental monitoring, and clinical research. At the same time the scientific focus on phthalates touches a widespread environmental exposure issue. If the research yields clearer mechanistic links between plastic chemicals and reproductive outcomes, local clinicians, public health officials, and community advocates could use that evidence to inform screening, prevention messaging, and policy conversations about chemical regulation and consumer safety.

The study also raises equity considerations, as chemical exposures often fall disproportionately on lower income and marginalized communities. Findings that clarify biological risk pathways could support targeted interventions and resource allocation to reduce exposure and downstream reproductive health harms. Over the next three years the Carroll team will share results through academic publications and professional meetings, and the work could shape local outreach and health practice if it confirms pathways by which phthalates impair fertility.