Clark Research Lab

The Clark Laboratory investigates how environmental exposures disrupt female reproductive health across the lifespan. Our research integrates reproductive toxicology, ovarian biology, molecular signaling, and multi-omic approaches to understand how environmentally relevant exposures - including per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and emerging contaminants - alter ovarian function, fertility, and reproductive health across generations.

Our work spans experimental models and human biospecimens, with particular emphasis on identifying mechanisms of ovarian toxicity, periods of reproductive susceptibility, persistent effects following exposure, and biomarkers that may predict reproductive dysfunction. Ultimately, we aim to translate mechanistic findings into strategies that improve environmental health risk assessment and protect reproductive health.

Research Areas

• Environmental Exposures & Ovarian Function - PFAS and other contaminants; follicle development, steroidogenesis, ovarian signaling, fibrosis, and fertility.
• Developmental & Multigenerational Reproductive Toxicology - effects of exposures during sensitive developmental windows and consequences across generations.
• Molecular Mechanisms & Multi-Omics - transcriptomics, single-nucleus sequencing, spatial approaches, and molecular assays to identify cell-specific mechanisms.
• Human & Translational Reproductive Health - use of human biospecimens, including follicular fluid, to characterize reproductive exposures and clinically relevant biomarkers.

Former Lab Members

• Adamarys Ramirez-Bueno, Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), Summer 2026
• Kate Taylor, Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP), Summer 2025
• Hannah Wood, Medical Student Summer Research Program, Summer 2024

Lab News and Highlights 

• Dr. Clark was selected as one of four inaugural VA Building Interdisciplinary Research Careers in Women’s Health Scholars.
• Dr. Clark gave an invited presentation at the 2026 Society for the Study of Reproduction annual meeting in Indianapolis, Indiana, “Adolescent PFAS exposure and the ovary: From lasting dysfunction to cell-type-specific responses”.
• Rasha Ghorab, MS -graduate student won a top poster presentation award at the 2026 UNMC COPH Student Research Conference for her poster “Single-Nucleus RNA-seq Reveals Cell-Type-Specific Transcriptional Alterations in the Ovary After Adolescent Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Mixture Exposure”. April 2026
• Dr. Clark was invited to present at the Environmental Health Sciences Research Center, Human Toxicology Seminar at the University of Iowa, “Mechanisms of PFAS-induced ovotoxicity: Implications for reproductive health.” October 2025
• Changyong Lee, PhD - postdoc, selected for oral presentation, “Integrative network and experimental analysis reveal protective effects of kaempferol against PFDA-induced granulosa cell dysfunction.” The 22nd Annual Gilbert S. Greenwald Symposium on Reproduction - University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. October 2025
• Changyong Lee, PhD - postdoc, selected for oral presentation and won Best Platform presentation award “Integrative network and experimental analysis reveal protective effects of kaempferol against PFDA-induced granulosa cell dysfunction.” Central States Chapter of the Society of Toxicology annual meeting - University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. October 2025
• Rasha Ghorab, MS - graduate student won poster award “Adolescent Exposure to a Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) Mixture Disrupts Estrous Cyclicity in Mice.” Central States Chapter of the Society of Toxicology annual meeting - University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas. October 2025
• Rasha Ghorab, MS, was awarded a UNMC Graduate Studies Fellowship for her project “Perfluorodecanoic Acid (PFDA) as an Ovotoxicant: Implications for Folliculogenesis, Hormone Regulation, and Fertility". July 2025