The Humans of the Wyss (HOW) series features members of the Wyss community discussing their work, the influences that shape them as professionals, and their collaborations at the Wyss Institute and beyond.
Sandy Elmehrath is all too familiar with the consequences of the gender health gap. Her great-aunt endured many years of pain from stomach cancer, only to be diagnosed after it was too late to treat. Knowing that stories like this are too common, Sandy decided to channel her curiosity and background in chemistry and material science to design and customize drug delivery platforms to address diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in women’s health, starting with endometriosis. Learn more about Sandy and her work in this month’s Humans of the Wyss.
What are you working on?
As part of the Director’s Fund Project, ENDOx, we are developing advanced diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to address the significant unmet needs in endometriosis care. Endometriosis is a condition where, instead of the lining of the uterus, called the endometrium, just shedding into a normal menstrual period, endometrial cells implant in other areas of the body and can develop into endometriotic lesions, causing severe debilitating pain. My work particularly focuses on designing targeted drug delivery platforms that hold the potential to transform treatment by offering earlier, non-invasive, and more effective solutions for managing endometriosis and potentially other women’s health conditions.
In addition, I’m exploring the immunomodulatory properties of nanomaterials and their capacity to interact with a biological system. This aspect of my research aims to enable a more personalized diagnostic and therapeutic approach, not only for endometriosis but hopefully for a wider and broader range of medical applications.
If we can make an impact, even if it’s just by raising awareness, it’s going to be a huge step forward in improving women’s healthcare.
What real-world problem does this solve?
Endometriosis affects an estimated 15% of women globally, and this number is likely to be much higher due to frequent delays in diagnosis – and misdiagnosis. Despite its prevalence, it’s significantly under-researched. Surgery is the only way to have a definitive diagnosis, though there are other methods that involve trial and error of hormonal therapies or imaging. There are limited treatment options available. Typically, these are hormonal therapies, like contraceptives and/or IUDs. Unfortunately, these are not infallible, and the disease can still progress because you are treating the symptoms instead of the root cause of the disease. So, some patients must undergo multiple surgeries, and even that is not a cure-all, especially for those in the later stages of the disease.
Our project aims to improve the prognosis by developing noninvasive diagnostics and personalized treatment options to address the different stages and manifestations of the disease, improving the quality of life for women worldwide.
What inspired you to get into this field?
Initially, I was on the path to becoming a pharmacist. But after working as a pharmacy technician at CVS, I found myself opening medication package inserts and trying to correlate the chemical structures and how they influence the way the drugs work. That curiosity helped me realize that I wanted to be part of the process of developing and improving medications to provide patients with better treatment options and eventually allow them to reach a point where they are out of care, so I deviated from my original path and went on to pursue a graduate degree in chemistry.
Most diseases are very complex, so a one-size-fits-all approach rarely works. My background in chemistry and material science allows me to design and customize drug delivery platforms to precisely address unique diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in diseases and minimize the trial and error that a lot of patients have to go through when trying to find the right therapeutic option.
What continues to motivate you?
Before starting the work on endometriosis, I didn’t realize how many other Wyss researchers were interested in tackling this disease. I feel really lucky to be working with a great group of people who are just as passionate as I am about finding solutions. We are bringing together a community of clinicians, researchers, business experts, and patients.
Now, no matter where I am, whether I’m traveling abroad or meeting friends for dinner, whenever I have a conversation with a group of people about my work, at least one person at the table is either affected by the disease or knows someone with endometriosis. Unfortunately, there’s a stigma around women discussing the condition and sharing very real pain that people often say is an exaggeration.
So, if we can make an impact, even if it’s just by raising awareness, it’s going to be a huge step forward in improving women’s healthcare.
What excites you about your work?
While I like structure in my daily routine, I also appreciate change and the excitement of new experiences. At the Wyss, I can explore various aspects of my field, and there’s always something new to learn from my colleagues. The Institute is anything but one-dimensional, and I really appreciate and value the diversity of backgrounds and expertise.
I am also part of the Wyss 99s Steering Committee and the Women’s Health Catalyst, which allows me to connect with other members through engaging activities that can really strengthen our community. There are always opportunities for growth and new ways to channel my passion and skills to make a meaningful impact.
What are some of the challenges that you face?
One of the main challenges is understanding the biological aspects of my projects. As a chemist and material scientist, I’ve had to adapt to tissue culture techniques and animal studies, which require a different level of precision and care than my pure chemistry work.
I wanted to continue working on groundbreaking research but also have an impact beyond a publication. The Wyss’ focus on turning innovative, out-of-the-box ideas into practical solutions perfectly aligned with my goals.
Why did you want to work at the Wyss?
Before coming to the Wyss, I lived abroad and worked as an academic instructor at UAEU while I pursued my Ph.D. After moving back to the United States, I wanted to continue working on groundbreaking research but also have an impact beyond a publication. The Wyss’ focus on turning innovative, out-of-the-box ideas into practical solutions perfectly aligned with my goals. The unique structure and access to cutting-edge resources made it the perfect place to pursue my research goals and take the next steps in my career.
What is unique about the Wyss? How has that impacted your work?
At the Wyss, there is a mindset that anything is possible. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to contribute to solutions to a complex and underfunded area of women’s health, but with the support of our COO Angelika Fretzen and Northpond Ventures, what started as a passion for advancing endometriosis care has grown exponentially. Last year, the Wyss hosted a Women’s Health Symposium. While we had already initiated conversations with a potential clinical collaborator over Zoom, it was hard to communicate the Wyss’s complexity effectively. This clinician attended the event, saw our poster, toured our facility, and met researchers from different disciplines and teams. He got to see our passion, and this helped build that relationship.
We’ve grown into a team of eight researchers and clinical collaborators, all dedicated to finding solutions that can improve the quality of life for women suffering from this debilitating disease. The Women’s Health Catalyst hosted our first endometriosis event earlier in March in honor of Endometriosis Awareness Month. Seeing this blossom into something bigger than I could have imagined is so exciting.
How do you collaborate with and/or receive support from teams across the Wyss Institute?
The Wyss is a collaborative environment that focuses on translating research into a product that can be commercialized so that patients can use it. Gretchen Fougere from the Business Development Team helps me see the business side of our technology in addition to the technical side. As scientists, we want to try everything, but she’s helped me focus on what can be translatable. Her insights have been incredibly useful.
I am part of David Mooney’s group and the Immuno-Materials platform, working closely with Michael Super. My collaboration with Shilpa Pothapragada from Don Ingber’s group emerged from an Institute-wide brainstorming session about Women’s Health. As scientists, it’s easy to become focused on our own work and only collaborate with our team members, but this can cause us to miss out on valuable opportunities in other areas and disciplines. The exchange of ideas with other teams across the Wyss was pivotal in advancing our work on endometriosis.
As scientists, it’s easy to become focused on our own work and only collaborate with our team members, but this can cause us to miss out on valuable opportunities in other areas and disciplines. The exchange of ideas with other teams across the Wyss was pivotal in advancing our work on endometriosis.
How do your previous work and personal experiences shape your approach to your work today?
My great-grandmother passed away from breast cancer, and my great-aunt endured many years of pain that came with stomach cancer but was only given a diagnosis when it was too late. A study highlighted by the World Economic Forum revealed that women in Denmark are diagnosed on average four years later than men for hundreds of health conditions. For example, diabetes is diagnosed about four and a half years later in women. With better resources and proper medical care, I believe that my great-grandmother and great-aunt might have lived longer and more comfortable lives. While we’ve made great progress since then, we still have a long way to go. So, as a woman in science, I want to be part of that change. My goal is to push progress forward so that one day, we can achieve true gender equality in healthcare.
What do you like to do outside of work?
After work, I usually head to my CrossFit gym. Staying active is an essential part of my routine and helps me manage the mental demands of the day. On weekends, I like to slow things down by baking, hiking, catching up with friends, or working on a puzzle. I have a bit of a sweet tooth, so I enjoy experimenting with healthier baked goods that pack a good amount of protein. All these activities are therapeutic for me and help me recharge for the week ahead.
What’s something fun about you that someone wouldn’t know from your resume?
I have a passion for travel. Growing up, I spent most of my summers in Egypt, visiting where my parents grew up and vacationing along the coast of Alexandria. These experiences played a huge role in my decision to live abroad after my undergraduate studies, opening up even more travel opportunities. Experiencing different cultures really shifts your perspective and makes you more open and understanding.
1/7 Sandy has a passion for travel. Here she's visiting a tortoise sanctuary in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath 
2/7 Rome, Italy. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath 
3/7 Sturlureykir Horse Farm in Iceland. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath 
4/7 Sandy snapped this photo in Kathmandu, Nepal. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath 
5/7 Sandy enjoys staying active with water sports and spending time by the water. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath 
6/7 Growing up, Sandy spent most of her summers in Egypt. This picture was taken in Cairo. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath 
7/7 Paris, Inside the Musée de Louvre. Credit: Sandy Elmehrath
I also have a PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Certification and recently became a CrossFit level one trainer. I really enjoy taking my hobbies to the next level.
If you had to choose an entirely different career path, what would it be?
Because of my love for fitness, I’d always wanted to be a track athlete or a tennis player. But these days, I find myself appreciating the simpler things in life. My family’s very big on gatherings, and I love hosting dinners whenever I get the chance. So, I think owning a small farm and restaurant where I could provide fresh ingredients would be the dream.
What does it feel like to be working on cutting-edge technology that has the potential to have a real and significant impact on people’s lives and society?
Most people spend their lives searching for their purpose, and I feel fortunate to have found mine in making a positive impact on women’s health and science in general.
It’s incredibly fulfilling. Most people spend their lives searching for their purpose, and I feel fortunate to have found mine in making a positive impact on women’s health and science in general. Knowing that my work at the Wyss Institute has the potential to transform lives gives me a profound sense of responsibility and drive. I believe that getting more women in STEM is key to closing the gender health gap, so I hope that my journey can one day inspire young girls and other women to pursue a career in science.