Susan Quirk

Professor Quirk is a reproductive biologist with a concentration in ovarian physiology. A recent focus of her lab was to determine the mechanism of ovulation using novel in vivo imaging techniques. Other areas of research interest were determining the role of the hedgehog signaling pathway in ovarian function and the role of the vasculature in ovarian follicle development. Her lab contributed to understanding the mechanism of follicle atresia through apoptosis of follicle cells and the role of the cell cycle in the susceptibility of cells to apoptosis. 

Professor Quirk enjoyed serving as an instructor in several courses over the years at Cornell including Fundamentals of Endocrinology, Comparative Mammalian Reproduction, Tools for a Career in Research, Honors Seminar, Molecular and Cellular Approaches to Reproductive Physiology, Molecular Biology in Agriculture and Medicine and Molecular Techniques for Animal Biologists. She served as Chair of the Undergraduate Honors Research Committee in Animal Science for many years.

Selected Publications

• Cowan R.G., Quirk, S.M.  (2021). Cells responding to hedgehog signaling contribute to the theca of ovarian follicles.  Reproduction 116 :437-448. 
• Migone, F. F., Cowan, R. G., Williams, R. M., Gorse, K. J., Zipfel, W. R., & Quirk, S. M. (2016). In vivo imaging reveals an essential role of vasoconstriction in rupture of the ovarian follicle at ovulation. PNAS: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 113:2294–2299.
• Migone, F. F., Cowan, R. G., Williams, R. M., Zipfel, W. R., & Quirk, S. M. (2013). Multiphoton microscopy as a tool to study ovarian vasculature in vivo. IntraVital. 2:245-266.
• Quirk, S. M., Quirk, S. M., Cowan, R. G., & Harman, R. M. (2013). Role of the cell cycle in regression of the corpus luteum. Reproduction. 145:161-175.
• Ren, Y., Cowan, R. G., Migone, F. F., & Quirk, S. M. (2012). Over-activation of hedgehog signaling alters development of the ovarian vasculature. Biology of Reproduction. 86:174.
• Migone, F. F., Ren, Y., Cowan, R. G., Harman, R. M., Nikitin, A., & Quirk, S. M. (2012). Dominant activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway alters development of the female reproductive tract. Genesis: The Journal of Genetics and Development. 50:28-40.
• Harman, R. M., Cowan, R. G., Ren, Y., & Quirk, S. M. (2011). Reduced signaling through the hedgehog pathway in the uterine stroma causes deferred implantation and embryonic loss. Reproduction. 141:665-674.
• Ren, Y., Cowan, R. G., Harman, R. M., & Quirk, S. M. (2009). Dominant activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway in the ovary alters theca development and prevents ovulation. Molecular Endocrinology. 23:711-723.
• Russell, M. C., Cowan, R. G., Harman, R. M., Walker, A. L., & Quirk, S. M. (2007). The hedgehog signaling pathway in the mouse ovary. Biology of Reproduction. 77:226-236.
• Quirk, S. M., Cowan, R. G., Harman, R. M., Hu, C. L., & Porter, D. A. (2004). Ovarian follicular growth and atresia: the relationship between cell proliferation and survival. Journal of Animal Science. 82 (E. Suppl.):E40-E52.