Teresa K. Woodruff has been elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society, one of the world's oldest and most prestigious scientific institutions. With this distinction, she joins some of the most influential scientists in history, including Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein. She has also been elected to the American Philosophical Society, the oldest learned society in the United States, founded in 1743 by Benjamin Franklin.
Woodruff is an MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor at Michigan State University in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology in the College of Human Medicine and the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of Engineering. She served as MSU provost beginning in August 2020 and is currently president emerita of the university.
Reflecting on her election to the Royal Society and the American Philosophical Society, Woodruff said she was "surprised and humbled," adding that the recognition reflects the work of her lab and colleagues over many years, as well as the urgent need that led to her founding the field of oncofertility. She coined the term to describe the merging of cancer and fertility research and helped translate that work into an internationally recognized medical discipline. The field helps cancer patients preserve their ability to have families after fertility-threatening treatments.
"This is the 20th anniversary since I coined the term 'oncofertility,'" she said. "Today, young cancer patients can expect a consult from an oncofertility specialist, and I am honored to have worked with so many caring scientists and clinicians to make these real-world outcomes a reality."
Through this work, she leads the global Oncofertility Consortium, an international network dedicated to advancing fertility preservation worldwide.
Her research has produced landmark discoveries in reproductive biology, including the identification of the "zinc spark" at fertilization with fellow MSU Research Foundation Distinguished Professor Tom O'Halloran and breakthroughs in maturing ovarian follicles outside the body, contributing to new fertility preservation strategies.
"Michigan State University is fortunate to have such an inspiring scholar as Dr. Woodruff, whose discoveries have not only transformed reproductive health but whose scientific leadership has inspired scientists across disciplines and around the world," said Supratik Rayamajhi, interim dean of the College of Human Medicine.
Woodruff has received numerous honors for her scientific leadership, including the National Medal of Science, the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science Mentoring, election to the National Academy of Medicine, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the National Academy of Inventors. For her leadership at MSU, she was named Crain's Detroit Newsmaker of the Year in 2024, received the Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award from the American Council on Education Michigan Chapter and was recognized by the MSU Council of Graduate Students with its inaugural Above and Beyond Administrative Excellence Award.
For Woodruff, the impact on patients remains the most significant measure of her work.
"I believe the promise of fundamental science in medicine is that tomorrow's patient is treated better than today's," she said. "That is the distinction that matters most."
Looking ahead, Woodruff continues to lead active research at MSU. Her lab is focused on uncovering the mechanisms behind zinc's role in egg development, building on the discovery of the zinc spark.
"There is tremendous excitement around where this work can lead," she said.
