SP2B: BFS Young scientist short papers
FSA/BFS Exchange prize: Development of In Vitro Maturation (IVM) and its application in fertility preservation Professor Robert Gilchrist, NHMRC Investigator Fellow, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia
Professor Robert Gilchrist is a research scientist and a NHMRC Investigator Fellow. He is Research Lead of the Discipline of Women’s Heath UNSW, and Head of Research of the Fertility & Research Centre (Royal Hospital for Women/UNSW), and is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology. He is or has been a Scientific Advisory Board member and/or consultant to; City Fertility, IVF Australia, CooperSurgical, Repromed, Fertility SA, Cook Medical, and the NZ Ministry of Health.
Professor Gilchrist is a reproductive biologist whose research encompasses basic and applied aspects of ovarian folliculogenesis, oocyte maturation and preimplantation embryo development. He conducts discovery research on oocyte-somatic cell interactions as a determinant of subsequent embryonic development. He has made important scientific contributions demonstrating that oocyte paracrine signalling determines cumulus cell differentiation and function. Dr Gilchrist also studies new biomarkers of oocyte quality. In addition, he leads a translation research program with the objectives of improving oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) procedures for treatment of infertility and fertility preservation in women/girls with cancer. One of his IVM procedures is now in clinical practice. He has published 146 peer-reviewed papers including 27 reviews/chapters. He currently has an H-index of 51 with >8,500 citations [Scopus].
Assessing chromosome ageing in mammalian oocytes Matilda Bui, Student, University of Edinburgh, UK
Matilda Bui is a third year MRC PhD student at the MRC Human Genetics Unit with the University of Edinburgh. She is interested in understanding the link between maternal age and fertility, specifically on the behaviour of chromosomes in oocytes that can cause genetic conditions such as Downs’ syndrome in offspring. Her work focuses on the mechanisms of chromosome cohesion loss that occur in mammalian oocytes.
The uterine microbiome and the microbial metabolite butyrate stimulate pro-inflammatory responses in endometrial epithelial cells, suggesting a possible impact on female fertility Federica Giangrazi, PhD Student, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland
Federica Giangrazi is a final year PhD student, working in the Comparative Immunology laboratory of Prof. Cliona O’Farrelly in Trinity College Dublin. Born in Rome, Italy, Federica graduated in 2012 in BSc Biological Sciences at the University of Tor Vergata, Rome. She then obtained her MSc in Medical Biotechnology in 2015 from the University of Tor Vergata, Rome, with a research project undertaken in a molecular biology laboratory. After completing a six-month training programme, she moved to Ireland in 2017 where she started her PhD project focusing on understanding the role of microbial derived metabolites and in female fertility.
Exploring the experiences of women who have moved to Israel and subsequently used Israeli fertility treatment services: A qualitative study Lucy Davies, Medical Student, University of Birmingham, UK
Lucy Davies is currently in her fifth year of study at the University of Birmingham. She is in the fourth year of the MBChB Medicine and Surgery degree and has achieved a 1st class Intercalated BMedSc Global Health with Honours. Her current ambition is to pursue a career in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.
Quantifying the daily variability following a single estimation of reproductive hormone levels Sophie Adams, Medical Student, University of Glasgow, UK
Sophie is a 4th year medical student at the University of Glasgow, however she completed her intercalated BSc in Medical Sciences with Endocrinology at Imperial College London where she worked with a team to complete this research project on Quantifying Reproductive Hormone Levels.
When to stop freezing? The impact of embryo quality at cryopreservation on thaw survival and FET outcomes (2015-2021) Edel Rocher, Clinical Embryologist, Lister Fertility Clinic, UK