Dr. McKinley studies the lining of the uterus called the endometrium. The human endometrium is a uniquely powerful system to understand fundamental principles of regeneration, as it regenerates after menstruation approximately 400 times over the reproductive lifespan. Understanding this remarkable regenerative event is critical to combat the growing incidence of endometrial cancers, and to address the longstanding unmet needs of patients with endometriosis and adenomyosis. The McKinley laboratory studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of endometrial regeneration, with a view to improving endometrial cancer screening and developing new fertility-preserving treatments.