This Endometriosis Awareness Month, there is much to be hopeful for at 黑料吃瓜资源 (CSHL).
CSHL Associate Professor Semir Beyaz鈥檚 lab, in collaboration with Northwell Health, has published results from the world鈥檚 first endometrial biobank. This new platform for discovery was made possible through patient volunteers who donated tissue for fundamental biology research and studies of next-generation therapeutics.
Meanwhile, the Seckin Endometriosis Research Center for Women’s Health at CSHL has received a $200,000 donation from the , a nonprofit dedicated to transforming the lives of women and girls navigating complex hormone-related illnesses.
Our Daughters Foundation was born out of personal experience and a deep sense of calling. Every woman in the O鈥橫alley family鈥攁 mother and her three daughters鈥攈as lived with the pain and frustration of endometriosis.
Earlier this month, Beyaz and colleagues welcomed Kara O鈥橫alley, the O鈥橫alley family matriarch and founder of Our Daughters, along with her youngest daughter, Krissy Duenkel, and Krissy鈥檚 husband, Justin Duenkel, to the Seckin Endometriosis Research Center for Women鈥檚 Health at CSHL. Founded in 2025, it is the first center dedicated to endometriosis within a basic science institution in the U.S.
The O鈥橫alley family鈥檚 visit came just days before Krissy Duenkel was scheduled to have surgery with Dr. Tamer Seckin, founder of the . Before the trip, O鈥橫alley spoke with Beyaz about the work his lab is doing now and the directions they鈥檇 like to take moving forward. Beyaz said that hearing stories like Duenkel鈥檚 fuels his determination to one day help find a cure for the disease.
As for O鈥橫alley, she came away from the call so inspired that she and her family decided to double their planned contribution.
鈥淪peaking with Dr. Beyaz, what stood out most was his passion for understanding the biology and genetics of endometriosis,鈥� O鈥橫alley says. 鈥淚t gave me genuine hope that the future can look very different, not just for the next generation of patients, but for women suffering right now. He鈥檚 not only a brilliant scientist with incredible credentials, but someone who truly cares. It鈥檚 clear he has spent time listening to women who鈥檝e gone without answers, and he brings both deep compassion and a determined resolve to find them.鈥�
Beyaz believes the donation made by Our Daughters Foundation sends the message that supporting research into this disease is crucial. 鈥淓ndometriosis is a global crisis,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e are pushing on all fronts, trying to build a community around endometriosis. Bringing together stakeholders like the O鈥橫alleys and the Endometriosis Foundation of America is how we鈥檙e going to do that.鈥�
Written by: Gina DiPietro, Senior Public Relations Specialist | [email protected] | 516-367-6826