Defining the impact of androgens on macrophage function during endometrial tissue repair

The endometrium must repair following menstruation in order to maintain healthy function. Specialised immune cells called macrophages control repair but the specific subtypes and how they function in the endometrium are not known. Androgens are important for controlling endometrial function, but excess androgens are detrimental to repair. In other tissues androgens regulate macrophage function during repair but it is not known if this occurs in the endometrium. I aim to understand how androgens affect macrophages in endometrial repair. I will use a mouse model combined with detailed cell profiling to characterise different macrophage types and their function in endometrial repair. I will test how macrophage function can be changed by androgens and determine if blocking this can prevent poor repair associated with androgen excess. These studies will help to explain how macrophages are regulated during endometrial repair and provide a platform for developing new therapies for women's health disorders.