Roughly one in ten people with a uterus suffer from endometriosis, a painful gynecological condition that is also a leading cause of infertility during childbearing years. There is no cure for the disease, although surgery can help remove the painful uterine lesions associated with it.

But now, scientists at Oregon State University and the Oregon Health and Science University are using microscopic nanoparticles to locate and treat endometriosis in an animal model. The procedure could one day lead to a non-surgical treatment for a condition that can start in adolescence and go undiagnosed for years. With us now to talk about their research is Oleh Taratula, a professor at the Oregon State University College of Pharmacy, and Ov Slayden, a reproductive biologist and a professor at Oregon Health & Science University.