IP-NFT 2 : Targeting Integrated Stress Response to Prevent Primary Ovarian Insufficiency
Dr. Joshua Johnson
Menopause
Dr. Joshua Johnson
Menopause
Dr. Joshua Johnson is an Assistant Professor in the Divisions of Reproductive Sciences & Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Colorado Anschutz.
His research centers on the molecular mechanisms behind ovarian aging and POI, with a particular focus on the Integrated Stress Response (ISR) pathway - a cellular system that activates under stress and plays a central role in regulating follicle survival and ovarian function.
At the heart of Dr. Johnson's work is eIF2α, a protein that controls gene expression under cellular stress. His lab is investigating how the ISR pathway drives ovarian aging — with the goal of validating phosphorylated eIF2α as a biomarker for ovarian health, developing targeted interventions to prolong ovarian function, and translating these findings into real clinical options for women with POI.
POI affects roughly 1 in 100 women, causing the ovaries to stop functioning normally before the age of 40. Its consequences extend well beyond fertility - women with POI face significantly elevated risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and reduced quality of life, decades before natural menopause would occur. Yet today, there are no approved therapies that address the underlying biology. Dr. Johnson's research targets the critical gap between what science understands at the molecular level and what is currently available to patients.
POI affects roughly 1 in 100 women, causing the ovaries to stop functioning normally before the age of 40. Its consequences extend well beyond fertility - women with POI face significantly elevated risks of cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and reduced quality of life, decades before natural menopause would occur. Yet today, there are no approved therapies that address the underlying biology. Dr. Johnson's research targets the critical gap between what science understands at the molecular level and what is currently available to patients.
