Dr. Nicola Winston is the Laboratory Director for the University of Illinois In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Program. She provides professional consultation to physicians and patients regarding clinical embryology and treatment outcomes, as well as teaching students, residents and fellows the intricacies of early human development.

Dr. Winston’s research focuses on the process of egg maturation and improving our understanding of events that occur during ovarian follicle and oocyte growth and maturation. Her studies have also sought to identify and describe the function of factors involved in the regulation of early embryo development. Answering the question “How do these processes impact subsequent oocyte and embryo viability?” will greatly enhance the success of infertility treatments using assisted reproduction technologies.

Hobeika E, Armouti A, Fierro MA, Winston N, Scoccia B, Zamah AM, Stocco CO. Regulation of Insulin-like Growth Factor 2 by oocyte-secreted factors in primary human granulosa cells. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2020;105: 327-335.

Convissar S, Winston NJ, Fierro MA, Scoccia H, Zamah AM, Stocco C. Sp1 regulates steroidogenic genes and LHCGR expression in primary human luteinized granulosa cells. The Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, 2019;190:183-192.

Hobeika E, Armouti M, Kala H, Fierro MA, Winston NJ, Scoccia B, Zamah AM, Stocco C. Oocyte-Secreted Factors Synergize with FSH to Promote Aromatase Expression in Primary Human Cumulus Cells. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 2019; 104(5):1667-1676.

Convissar S, Armouti M, Fierro MA, Winston NJ, Scoccia H, Zamah AM, Stocco C. Regulation of AMH by oocyte-specific growth factors in human primary cumulus cells. Reproduction, 2017;154: 745-753.

Medical School:University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Board Certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis, St Louis, MO:High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD),Andrology Laboratory Director (ALD),Clinical Consultant (CC)

Winston N, Fierro M, Zamah M, Scoccia B, Stocco C. Variable IGF1R mRNA expression in individual GV and in vitro matured M2 human oocytes. Oral Presentation, 22nd Annual Symposium, College of Reproductive Biologists May 2018 in Orlando, FL.

Armouti, M., Hobeika, E., Fierro, M., Winston, N.J., Scoccia, B., Zamah, M.A., Stocco, C. (2018) Salt Inducible Kinase is a negative regulator of granulosa cell differentiation in humans and rodents. Endocrine Society Annual Meeting March 2018 in Chicago, IL.

Hobeika E, Armouti M, Fierro MA, Winston NJ, Zamah MA, Scoccia B, and Stocco C. “Oocyte Secreted Factors Regulate Aromatase Expression in Human Primary Cumulus Granulosa Cells.” Presented at American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress and Expo on October 9, 2018 in Denver, CO.

Hobeika E, Armouti M, Fierro MA, Winston NJ, Zamah MA, Scoccia B, and Stocco C. “Gonadotropins and Oocyte Secreted Factors Coordinated Regulation of DDIT4 and CYR61 in Primary Human Cumulus Granulosa Cells.” Presented at American Society for Reproductive Medicine Scientific Congress and Expo on October 9, 2018 in Denver, CO. 1st Place Poster.