A matter of timing - an investigation of the interplay between reproductive hormones and ovarian follicles
Sophie Fischer-Holzhausen, PhD, Scientist Systems Pharmacology, ESQlabs GmbH
Sophie Fischer-Holzhausen, PhD, is a Scientist in Systems Pharmacology at ESQlabs. Her work focuses on advancing computational modeling approaches to address questions in women’s health.
In 2019, Sophie graduated with a master’s degree in Biophysics from Humboldt University Berlin. During her studies, she began exploring the intersection between computational science and female physiology, working on a systems biology approach to investigate the regulation of the human menstrual cycle.
After graduation, Sophie got the opportunity to continue working in this field by joining the Institute of Informatics at the University of Bergen, Norway, as a PhD candidate. Supervised by Prof. Susanna Röblitz, she contributed to the development and extension of mathematical models describing the endocrine regulation of the female reproductive system. In early 2023, Sophie submitted her PhD thesis, "A Matter of Timing – A Modeling-Based Investigation of the Dynamic Behavior of Reproductive Hormones in Girls and Women." - just in time to join AstraZeneca as a Pharmacometrician. Her PhD research included studies demonstrating the potential applications of menstrual cycle models in clinical and pharmaceutical settings, as well as methodological advancements in parameterizing complex models despite limited data availability.
In early 2024, she transitioned to ESQlabs, where she now focuses on projects related to female-specific health concerns. Sophie is not only advancing physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modeling strategies but also promotes modeling and simulation to enhance women’s health.
Webinar Abstract
The human menstrual cycle is governed by complex hormonal interactions within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis. Though its core mechanisms are well established, individual differences in hormone patterns and responses to treatment remain open questions.
To address these gaps, we developed a mechanistic mathematical model that captures the endocrine regulation of the menstrual cycle. This model provides insights into the interplay between ovarian follicle growth and reproductive hormone levels.
In the context of quantitative systems pharmacology, our model serves as a tool to study drug-hormone interactions. We demonstrate its applicability through simulation studies of treatment protocols for controlled ovarian stimulation, highlighting its potential to optimize therapeutic strategies.