Checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy diminishes oocyte number and quality: Consequences for fertility of female cancer survivors – Lauren Alesi, PhD Candidate, Monash University, Australia
Lauren Alesi is a doctoral candidate at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, within the department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology at Monash University. She completed her undergraduate studies at Monash University, receiving her Bachelor of Science with Honours in 2019. Her Honours project, which began characterising the impact of checkpoint blockade immunotherapy on ovarian function, ignited her passion for research and motivated her to pursue a career in research. Lauren’s current research is expanding on this work and focusses on elucidating the precise mechanisms of ovarian damage following checkpoint inhibition, as well as the long-term impacts on fertility.
TOP3A is required for the maintenance of the ovarian follicular reserve and oocyte quality – XueBi Cai, PhD, Monash University, Australia
Puma knockout protects the uterus from radiotherapy-mediated damage: implications for fertility preservation for female cancer survivors Meaghan Griffiths, PhD Candidate, Monash University, Australia
The impact of paternal diet on late gestation fetal growth, placental gene expression and maternal metabolic health during gestation – Afsaneh Khoshkerdar, PhD Student, University of Nottingham, UK
Stress-responsive O-GlcNAc protein modification regulates trophoblast development in an organoid model of implantation – Atalie Scrivener, PhD Student, University of Manchester, UK
Atalie Scrivener is a second-year PhD student at the University of Manchester and conducts her research at the Maternal and Fetal Health Research Centre in St Marys Hospital. She is interested in how O-GlcNAcylation affects trophoblast proliferation and differentiation. O-GlcNAcylation is a post-translational protein modification essential for embryo development that increases during the cell stress response. Suboptimal periconception environments activate cell stress responses in reproductive tissues, however, the effects of O-GlcNAcylation on trophoblast development are unknown.
Is inbreeding causing early pregnancy loss in thoroughbred horses? – Charlotte A. Shilton PhD Student, Royal Veterinary College, UK