Ann Nardulli facts for kids

Ann M. Nardulli (born November 28, 1948 – died June 27, 2018) was an American scientist. She was an endocrinologist, which means she studied hormones and the glands that make them. Dr. Nardulli was well-known for her important research into how a hormone called estrogen affects breast cancer.

About Ann M. Nardulli

Ann Wannemacher was born in 1948 in Morrison, Illinois. Her parents were Rita and Rudolph Wannemacher. They lived in Hooppole.

Education and Early Career

Ann first earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education. She got this from Northern Illinois University. After graduating, she taught elementary school in Addison. Later, she went back to school. She earned her master's and doctoral degrees at the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign. She also did special advanced studies there in biochemistry.

Researching Hormones and Cancer

Dr. Nardulli joined a lab at the university led by Benita Katzenellenbogen. She eventually became a professor. She worked in the Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology. There, she had her own lab. She taught students and studied how estrogen affects women's bodies.

Key Discoveries

Dr. Nardulli's research focused on how estrogen works. She studied the proteins it connects with. She also looked at how estrogen changes chromatin and DNA. These are the building blocks of our genes inside cells. Her work helped scientists understand how estrogen affects breast cancer cells.

Her team also explored other topics. They studied proteins on the outside of breast cancer cells. They also looked at proteins that these cells release. Later, her research focused on how estrogen acts in the brain.

Teaching and Mentoring

Dr. Nardulli loved teaching students. She especially enjoyed introducing them to human physiology and endocrinology. She was recognized for her excellent teaching. She also enjoyed spending time with a group called the "Hormone Chixx." This group included women from across the university who studied hormones.

Speaking Up for Science

Dr. Nardulli was an active member of the Endocrine Society. This is a group of experts who study hormones. She led a committee that focused on speaking up for science. She often visited Washington, D.C. There, she met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill. She encouraged them to provide more money for scientific research. She also helped decide what articles were published in important science magazines. These included Endocrine Reviews and Molecular Endocrinology.

Ann Nardulli passed away at her home in 2018. She was 69 years old.