Candace Tingen, Ph.D.

Candace Tingen, Ph.D., joined the Gynecologic Health and Disease Branch at the NICHD in 2015. Her responsibilities include providing technical leadership, guidance, and management of a research grant portfolio that focuses on the physiology and pathophysiology of human female reproduction and benign gynecologic diseases, including uterine fibroids and menstrual disorders. Dr. Tingen received her undergraduate degrees in biology and women’s studies from Duke University and her Ph.D. in the laboratory of Dr. Teresa Woodruff at Northwestern University. Her doctoral work examined mechanisms of pre-pubertal ovarian follicle atresia and immune-cell mediated in vitro follicular growth and development. In addition to highly cited basic research papers in the field of reproductive biology, Dr. Tingen has also been a lead author on several peer-reviewed articles published in high-impact journals, such as Nature and Science; these articles focus on diverse areas of health science policy, including sex equity in clinical trials and funding for gamete and embryo research. Following her graduate work, Dr. Tingen served as Director of Research Programs in the Institute for Women’s Health Research at Northwestern University, where she managed a diverse portfolio of biomedical research projects from grantees across Illinois and coordinated the Illinois Women’s Health Registry, with more than 6,200 participants and 20 research investigators. Transitioning to federal service, Dr. Tingen was selected as an AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow and served 2 years in the Office of Research on Women’s Health. Before coming to NICHD, she was also the team lead for science policy and evaluation in the Office of Science Policy, Planning, Data Analysis and Reporting at the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities. Dr. Tingen brings to her position scientific expertise, policy experience, and a longstanding passion for women’s health.