Shannon Whirledge, PhD, MSc
Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive SciencesDownloadHi-Res Photo
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Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
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Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
Contact Info
Appointments
Additional Titles
Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
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About
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Titles
Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Associate Professor, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Assistant Professor, Environmental Health Sciences
Biography
Dr. Shannon Whirledge received her B.S. in Biology and B.A. in Political Science in 2003 from Winthrop University and was awarded her Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology in 2009 from Baylor College of Medicine. She continued her studies in reproductive endocrinology as an NIH IRTA fellow at the NIEHS. During her postdoctoral fellowship, Dr. Whirledge received her Masters in Health Science in Clinical Research from Duke University. In 2016, she joined the faculty of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at Yale School of Medicine.
Dr. Whirledge is an active member of the Endocrine Society, Women in Endocrinology, the Society for the Study of Reproduction, and the Society for Reproductive Investigation. Dr. Whirledge has served as an editorial board member for Endocrinology and serves as an ad hoc reviewer for other journals within the fields of Cell Biology and Reproductive Sciences.
Last Updated on April 01, 2024.
Appointments
Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
Associate Professor on TermPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
- Discovery to Cure Internship
- Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences
- Reproductive Sciences
Education & Training
- MSc
- Duke University, Master of Health Science in Clinical Research (2016)
- IRTA Postdoctoral Fellow
- NIH-NIEHS (2016)
- PhD
- Baylor College of Medicine, Molecular and Cellular Biology (2009)
Research
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Overview
Medical Research Interests
Endocrine Disruptors; Endocrinology; Infertility, Female; Leiomyoma; Molecular Biology; Pregnancy Complications; Reproductive Medicine; Uterus
ORCID
0000-0002-5435-4141
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Frequent collaborators of Shannon Whirledge's published research.
Publications Timeline
A big-picture view of Shannon Whirledge's research output by year.
Research Interests
Research topics Shannon Whirledge is interested in exploring.
Amanda Kallen, MD
Mancy Tong, PhD
Vikki M Abrahams, PhD
20Publications
1,052Citations
Uterus
Infertility, Female
Leiomyoma
Publications
2025
Undermining Women’s Health Research — Gambling with the Public’s Health
Kallen A, Whirledge S, Goldman K, Johnson J. Undermining Women’s Health Research — Gambling with the Public’s Health. The New England Journal Of Medicine 2025, 392: 2185-2187. PMID: 40435490, DOI: 10.1056/nejmp2503576.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetric
2023
Decidualization dampens toll-like receptor mediated inflammatory responses in human endometrial stromal cells by upregulating IκBα
Tong M, Scott J, Whirledge S, Abrahams V. Decidualization dampens toll-like receptor mediated inflammatory responses in human endometrial stromal cells by upregulating IκBα. Journal Of Reproductive Immunology 2023, 159: 103988. PMID: 37451159, PMCID: PMC10530124, DOI: 10.1016/j.jri.2023.103988.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsEndometrial stromal cellsInflammatory responseStromal cellsHuman endometrial stromal cellsToll-like receptor signalingSex hormone levelsMenstrual cycle stageToll-like receptorsImmune response changesViral double-stranded RNAHuman EnSCsEndometrial responseProinflammatory cytokinesSuccessful pregnancyMenstrual cycleHuman endometriumHormone levelsMajor cell typesImmune responseNFκB p65Viral infectionDecidualizationBacterial lipopolysaccharideReceptor signalingBacterial components
2021
Combinatorial actions of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid stress hormone receptors are required for preventing neurodegeneration of the mouse hippocampus
Oakley R, Whirledge S, Petrillo M, Riddick N, Xu X, Moy S, Cidlowski J. Combinatorial actions of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid stress hormone receptors are required for preventing neurodegeneration of the mouse hippocampus. Neurobiology Of Stress 2021, 15: 100369. PMID: 34368410, PMCID: PMC8326231, DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100369.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsDentate gyrus neuronsMineralocorticoid receptorGyrus neuronsKnockout miceSingle knockout counterpartsConditioned fear testDouble knockout miceStress hormone receptorsPrimary stress hormoneCA2 neuronsHippocampal glucocorticoidRelated nuclear receptorsKnockout counterpartsNeuronal deathDentate gyrusNeuronal markersLarge cohortMouse hippocampusPsychiatric disordersGlucocorticoidsHippocampusCell proliferation pathwaysChronic stressStress hormonesProfound neurodegenerationChapter 9 Mechanism of glucocorticoid action in immunology—Basic concepts
Wood M, Whirledge S. Chapter 9 Mechanism of glucocorticoid action in immunology—Basic concepts. 2021, 147-170. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-818508-7.00020-8.ChaptersCitationsConceptsGlucocorticoid receptorEpigenetic modificationsPosttranslational modificationsTranscription factorsDNA bindingTissue-specific immune responsesOverall physiologyCell typesGlucocorticoid-mediated effectsNuclear receptorsImmune cell typesFundamental processesReceptor isoformsLevels of hormonesRelative expressionReceptor actionReproductive systemChapter 9 MechanismsGlucocorticoid bioavailabilityAutoimmune diseasesGlucocorticoid actionImmune responseFetal developmentCo-factorImmune system
2019
In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell Lines
Kisanga E, Tang Z, Guller S, Whirledge S. In Vitro Assays to Evaluate the Migration, Invasion, and Proliferation of Immortalized Human First-trimester Trophoblast Cell Lines. Journal Of Visualized Experiments 2019 DOI: 10.3791/58942-v.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsChapter 5 Steroid Hormone Action
Whirledge S, Cidlowski J. Chapter 5 Steroid Hormone Action. 2019, 115-131.e4. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-47912-7.00005-6.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricConceptsSteroid hormone receptorsSteroid hormonesHormone receptorsSteroid hormone actionComplex molecular eventsGroup of hormonesContext-specific mannerPhysiologic responsesNongenomic actionsHormone actionHormoneSignal transductionTranscription factorsReceptorsPhysiologic processesIntracellular proteinsReproductive systemMolecular eventsChemical messengers
2017
Stress and Implantation Failure
Deaton J, Patel B, Johnston-MacAnanny E, Yu J, Whirledge S, Wilson A, David Wininger J, Shu Y, Taylor R, Berga S. Stress and Implantation Failure. 2017, 103-124. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-71967-2_7.ChaptersCitationsConceptsImplantation failureHCG productionSecretion of estradiolHPO axisMenstrual bleedingOvarian axisEndometrial developmentMetabolic factorsElevated glucocorticoidsEndometriumInappropriate exposureEndocrine signalsLaboratory stressorPutative mechanismsQuantitative exposureImplantationFemale reproductionEstradiolOvulationHealthy blastocystAlterationsFailureExposureBleedingObesityPioneer Factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 Assist Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Endometrial Cells
Whirledge S, Kisanga EP, Taylor RN, Cidlowski JA. Pioneer Factors FOXA1 and FOXA2 Assist Selective Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in Human Endometrial Cells. Endocrinology 2017, 158: 4076-4092. PMID: 28938408, PMCID: PMC5695839, DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00361.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPioneer factor FOXA1Polymerase 2Molecular mechanismsRecruitment of GRThousands of genesExpression of lefty1GR-dependent inductionGene expression analysisHuman endometrial cellsGlucocorticoid receptorGlucocorticoid-mediated inductionEndometrial cellsRegulatory regionsGlucocorticoid receptor signalingMaster regulatorSpecific genesExpression analysisPrimary human endometrial cellsGene expressionHuman uterine cellsGlucocorticoid-dependent inductionIntracellular signalingEmbryo implantationFOXA2Receptor recruitmentGenerating diversity in human glucocorticoid signaling through a racially diverse polymorphism in the beta isoform of the glucocorticoid receptor
Whirledge SD, Jewell CM, Barber LM, Xu X, Katen KS, Garantziotis S, Cidlowski JA. Generating diversity in human glucocorticoid signaling through a racially diverse polymorphism in the beta isoform of the glucocorticoid receptor. Laboratory Investigation 2017, 97: 1282-1295. PMID: 28759007, PMCID: PMC5759773, DOI: 10.1038/labinvest.2017.76.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsMeSH Keywords and ConceptsMeSH Keywords3' Untranslated RegionsAdultAmino Acid SubstitutionBlack PeopleCell Line, TumorCells, CulturedCohort StudiesFemaleGene Expression RegulationGenetic Association StudiesGlucocorticoidsHispanic or LatinoHumansMacrophagesMaleNorth CarolinaPolymorphism, Single NucleotideProspective StudiesReceptors, GlucocorticoidRecombinant ProteinsRegistriesSignal TransductionWhite PeopleConceptsGene expression profilesGene expressionExpression profilesGlucocorticoid sensitivityT polymorphismWide gene expressionPrimary macrophagesInherent transcriptional activityHigher serum cortisol levelsLow-dose dexamethasoneProspective cohort studyProtein expressionSelf-reported allergiesDominant negative regulatorSerum cortisol levelsReceptor protein expressionSelf-reported diseasesGlucocorticoid receptor geneHuman glucocorticoid receptor geneMinor allele frequencyNon-Hispanic participantsAlternative splicingMRNA stabilityReceptor stabilityTranscriptional activityGlucocorticoids and Reproduction: Traffic Control on the Road to Reproduction
Whirledge S, Cidlowski JA. Glucocorticoids and Reproduction: Traffic Control on the Road to Reproduction. Trends In Endocrinology And Metabolism 2017, 28: 399-415. PMID: 28274682, PMCID: PMC5438761, DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2017.02.005.Peer-Reviewed Reviews, Practice Guidelines, Standards, and Consensus StatementsCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsDiverse cellular functionsStress-induced levelsCell-specific mannerCellular functionsGlucocorticoid receptorCellular processingGR geneReproductive functionNormal physiologyActivity of glucocorticoidsCompelling new evidenceReproductionReproductive dysfunctionGlucocorticoid responsivenessGlucocorticoidsSteroid hormonesGenesProteinDiversityPhysiologyRegulationFunctionReceptorsNew evidenceMaintenance
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
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Activities
activity Status of Women in Medicine
12/15/2016 - PresentCommitteesLiaisonDetailsLiaison for the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciencesactivity Yale Pathways-Reproductive Physiology Club
06/02/2017 - PresentPublic ServiceMemberDetailsOutreach program for local high school students to discover the science of reproduction.activity Endocrine Society
04/01/2016 - 03/31/2019Professional OrganizationsBoard MemberDetailsSelected member of the Basic Science Focus Groupactivity Endocrinology
04/01/2016 - 03/31/2019Peer Review Groups and Grant Study SectionsEditorial BoardDetailsEditorial Board Member
Honors
honor Eugenia Rosemberg Abstract Award
03/23/2019International AwardEndocrine SocietyDetailsUnited Stateshonor Women in Endocrinology Young Investigator Award
04/01/2017International AwardWomen in EndocrinologyDetailsUnited Stateshonor Global Leadership Academy
03/17/2017International AwardEndocrine SocietyDetailsUnited Stateshonor NIEHS Paper of the Year
01/06/2017National AwardNIEHSDetailsUnited Stateshonor Rodbell Award
01/15/2016Regional AwardSTL, NIEHSDetailsUnited States
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Laboratory for Surgery, Obsterics & Gynecology
Academic Office
375 Congress Avenue, Rm 204C
New Haven, CT 06519