Editorial board
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Greg FitzHarris, PhD, BSc Professor, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Director of the Centre for Research in Reproduction and Fertility, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada His research interests are in development of the oocyte and early embryo. His past work includes cell signalling and homeostasis. Current research focuses on the mechanism of cell division and chromosome segregation. He works mainly with mouse oocytes and early embryos. |
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Christopher A Price, PhD Head, Department of Veterinary Biomedicine, Montreal Veterinary School, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada His research is centred on ovarian function in ruminants, particularly mechanisms controlling differentiation of granulosa cells. His interest is currently focused on the role of fibroblast growth factors in granulosa cell health and atresia. |
| REVIEWS EDITOR | |
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Trudee Fair, PhD Associate Professor, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland Her research interests are on the role of the maternal immune system in cow fertility and bovine oocyte growth and maturation: including oocyte developmental competence and the establishment and stabilization of maternal imprints during bovine oocyte growth. |
| ASSOCIATE EDITORS | |
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John Aitken, PhD, ScD Laureate Professor, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Office of the PVC Health and Medicine (Biological Sciences), The University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia Professor Aitken’s area of expertise is cell biology and biotechnology with particular emphasis on reproductive science. In recent years his focus has been on the cell biology of mammalian germ cells, particularly the male. This interest extends from the fundamental molecular mechanisms that regulate the differentiation of male germ cells in the testes to the development of clinical improvements in our capacity to diagnose and treat male infertility. |
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Nathalie Beaujean, PhD Director of Research at the Stem Cell and Brain Research Institute, Lyon, France Dr Beaujean has experience in epigenetic marks, mostly with image analysis tools, some of which she developed. Her current projects are centred around on epigenetic reprogramming in embryos and stem cells. She also has interest in the dynamic changes linking ribosomal gene transcription and nucleologenesis in preimplantation mouse embryos. |
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Ian Brewis BSc, PhD Senior Lecturer, Operational Director of Central Biotechnology Services, Cardiff University School of Medicine, Cardiff, UK His research focuses on using proteomics and other approaches to understand molecular mechanisms in sperm cells at fertilization. He is also interested in fertilization and male reproductive biology/health in general. He has a wider interest in proteomics technologies, particularly in relation to reproductive biology, and is also responsible for core facilities in genomics and bioinformatics. |
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Mariano G Buffone, PhD Associate Professor and Vice Director, Instituto de Biologia y Medicina Experimental, Buenos Aires, Argentina His laboratory seeks to understand the complex process of mammalian sperm capacitation with particular emphasis in the process of acrosomal exocytosis. To this end, his lab uses a wide range of approaches that include the analysis of signaling pathways, single cell imaging experiments, super resolution microscopy and in vivo studies. |
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Lawrence (Larry) Chamley, PhD Professor, The Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand Professor Chamley's research interests centre on the role of placental extracellular vesicles in feto–maternal communication during normal and diseased pregnancies and on the role of antiphospholipid antibodies in obstetric diseases. His team discovered, and studies the function of, SPRASA a protein expressed in mammalian sperm and oocytes. |
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D Stephen Charnock-Jones, BSc, PhD Professor of Reproductive Biology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK His research interests are in the cell and molecular biology of placental function, particularly focusing on the interactions between endothelial cells and trophoblast, endoplasmic reticulum and oxidative stress. He works with human and mouse material using genomic methods and genetic models. |
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Joëlle Dupont, PhD Director of Research at the Physiology of Reproduction and Behavior Unit from National Institute of Agricultural Research, Nouzilly, France She has experience in the interactions between metabolic and female reproductive functions using human and domestic animal models. Her interest is currently focused on the role of adipokines in ovarian functions. |
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Carol F Elias, PhD Professor, Molecular & Integrative Physiology and Obstetrics and Gynecology; Co-Director, Reproductive Sciences Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA Her research interests are neuroendocrinology, reproductive physiology and metabolic regulation. Current research focused on neural and molecular mechanisms by which the metabolic imbalance disrupts reproductive physiology. She works mainly with genetically modified mouse models and viral vectors for brain circuitry mapping, remote activation and inhibition of specific neuronal populations, and targeted deletion or re-expression of related genes. |
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Niamh Forde Academic Fellow and Group Leader, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK Dr Forde is interested in the key question of what provides a good uterine environment capable of sustaining successful early pregnancy. To address this question, she uses a number of different in vivo and in vitro animal models as well as well as some of the ‘omic’ technologies such as transcriptomic, proteomic and metabolomics analysis of reproductive tissues. |
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Stephen Franks Imperial College London, UK Stephen Franks is professor of reproductive endocrinology at Imperial College London, Faculty of Medicine and a former chairman of the Society for Endocrinology. He is a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences and holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Uppsala, Sweden. He has clinical and laboratory-based programmes of research in the field of normal and disordered function of the hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian axis with a major interest in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a common endocrine disorder with both reproductive and metabolic effects. His research focuses on the interaction between genetic and environmental factors in aetiology of the syndrome. |
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Robert B Gilchrist, DScAgr, FSRB Professor of Medicine, University of New South Wales Sydney, Australia Professor Robert Gilchrist is a NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and an oocyte biologist conducting both discovery and applied research. He investigates oocyte-somatic cell interactions including oocyte-secreted factor regulation of granulosa/cumulus cell function, and its impact on oocyte quality. He has a long interest in discovery aspects of oocyte in vitro maturation (IVM) and how it can be applied in domestic animal and human ART. He has developed novel approaches to IVM and is active in human clinical trials in this area. Dr Gilchrist also studies new biomarkers of ovarian and oocyte function. |
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Natalie J Hannan, PhD Head, Therapeutics Discovery and Vascular Function in Pregnancy Laboratory, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women at the University of Melbourne, Australia Natalie is a NHMRC Career Development Fellow, in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Mercy Hospital for Women at the University of Melbourne. Her research is focused on placental development and vascular function in pregnancy. She has a deep passion towards developing new drugs and delivery strategies to combat major complications of pregnancy, especially preeclampsia. Her pre-clinical research has led to clinical trials both internationally and nationally. Natalie is also the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, and she leads new initiatives to enhance Diversity and Inclusion within the Faculty. |
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Peter J Hansen, PhD Distinguished Professor & LE 'Red' Larson Professor, Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainsville, FL, USA His research is focused on fertility in domestic animals with areas of research including maternal regulation of preimplantation embryonic development, actions of heat stress, and identification of genes containing alleles that effect embryonic survival, fertility, and body temperature regulation. |
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Zuping He, PhD Professor of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, China; Dean, Hunan Normal University School of Medicine, Changsha, China His research interests have focused on male reproduction and stem cell biology, including isolation, identification, culture, gene and microRNA regulation, and signaling pathways in regulating the self-renewal, differentiation and transdifferentiation of male germ cells. |
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Karla Hutt, PhD Head, Ovarian Biology Laboratory, Monash University, Australia Her research investigates the role of inflammation, infection, DNA repair and apoptosis in determining oocyte number and quality, with the aim of i) improving women’s health and fertility during throughout their reproductive life and ii) developing new therapeutic strategies to protect female fertility during anti-cancer therapy. |
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Greg A Johnson, PhD Associate Professor, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA His research utilizes domestic animals (pigs and sheep) and mice to investigate the molecular, cellular and physiological interactions between the conceptus (embryo/fetus and associated placental membranes) and uterus during pregnancy recognition, implantation and placental development – with the ultimate goal of applying new knowledge towards clinical strategies to prevent pregnancy loss in women, livestock, and companion animals. |
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Aileen F Keating, PhD Professor, Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University, IA, USA Dr Keating is a Professor in the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University. She received her doctorate in Biochemistry from the National University of Ireland, Galway in 2003 and was a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Alberta from 2004–2006, and the University of Arizona from 2006–2010. She is author or co-author of 80 peer-reviewed articles and nine book chapters. She serves on the board of directors for the Society for the Study of Reproduction and has served from 2016–2021 as the vice-president elect to past-president of the Society of Toxicology Reproductive and Developmental Toxicology Specialty Section. Her research investigates: 1) mechanisms by which ovotoxicants compromise ovarian function; 2) ovarian protective responses to ovotoxic xenobiotic exposures; and 3) ovarian biotransformation processes that contribute to ovotoxicity. Her ultimate aim is to minimize female reproductive dysfunction that is a consequence of ovotoxic chemical exposures. |
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Jason G Knott, PhD Associate Professor of Animal Science, Adjunct Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, Michigan State University, MI, USA His research investigates the basic molecular mechanisms that regulate cell-fate decisions in preimplantation embryos and stem cells. Currently, he is focused on understanding the transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms that govern pluripotency and trophoblast lineage development in mice, humans, and cattle. The long term impact of early embryo perturbations on postimplantation embryo development and offspring health is being explored. |
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Noora Kotaja, PhD Assistant Professor of Molecular Medicine, University of Turku, Turku, Finland Her research interests are in male reproductive biology, in particular the molecular mechanisms of spermatogenesis in mouse. Her main focus is on the regulation of gene expression, more specifically the posttranscriptional RNA regulation and non-coding RNAs in meiotic and post-meiotic male germ cells. |
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Holly A LaVoie, PhD Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, USA Her longstanding research interests are in the hormone-mediated transcriptional control of genes involved in ovarian steroidogenesis. Specific interests focus on GATA4/6 target genes including those for several START domain proteins. She utilizes mainly human and pig primary granulosa-luteal culture models. |
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Jacqueline Maybin, PhD, MRCOG, MBChB, BSc Senior Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, University of Edinburgh, UK Dr Maybin’s research interest is how endometrial function contributes to Abnormal Uterine Bleeding (AUB). Using human endometrial tissue and mouse models of simulated menstruation, she examines the role of inflammation and hypoxia in endometrial breakdown and repair with the aim of improving preventative and therapeutic strategies for those experiencing AUB. |
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Tom Moore, MVB, MSc, PhD, MRCVS Wellcome Trust/HRB 'New Blood' Research Fellow; Statutory Lecturer, Developmental Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland His research interests are in molecular embryology, placental function and the evolution of maternal–fetal interactions, particularly in relation to genomic imprinting and placental hormones. A major interest is the evolution and function of the human and mouse pregnancy-specific glycoproteins. He is a member of the Irish Transgenic Network and is investigating novel modes of transgenic rodent production. |
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Mary Mullins, PhD Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA She studies oogenesis and the maternal regulation of embryonic development in the zebrafish. Through forward genetic adult mutant screens, she has discovered key regulators of oocyte polarity, the oocyte to embryo transition, egg activation, cell cleavage, early embryonic patterning, as well as male fertility. |
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Vasantha Padmanabhan, PhD Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics, and Gynecology, Molecular and Integrative Physiology, and Environmental Health Sciences at the University of Michigan, MI, USA Her current research focuses on understanding the fetal origin of reproductive and metabolic disorders. Utilizing integrative approaches, her laboratory investigates the impact of maternal exposure to native steroids (testosterone, estradiol) and environmental pollutants such as bisphenol-A in programming adult diseases. Her work currently has an emphasis on reproductive neuroendocrine and ovarian defects and insulin resistance such as hyperandrogenic disorders like polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and identifying prevention and treatment strategies. |
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João Ramalho-Santos, PhD Professor of Cell, Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal His research focuses on metabolism and mitochondria, as it relates both to sperm quality (with implications for human Assisted Reproduction Technologies), and pluripotent stem cells (and their ability to differentiate). |
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Karen Schindler Assistant Professor, Department of Genetics at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, NJ, USA Dr Schindler’s research program focuses on understanding how chromosome segregation is regulated during oocyte meiotic maturation and preimplantation embryogenesis. She recently published detailing variants in human Aurora kinase genes that could be protective of gamete euploidy and published a review on the roles of the Aurora kinase proteins in meiosis in peer-reviewed journals. |
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Karl Swann, PhD Chair of Reproductive Cell Biology, School of Biology, Cardiff University, UK Professor Swann's primary interest is in egg activation at fertilization. He first described the existence of a sperm factor with a phospholipase C (PLC) activity that can cause sustained Ca2+ oscillations and egg activation in mammals. Working with Tony Lai he helped identify the sperm factor as PLCzeta. This is now recognized as the sperm protein that stimulates development in mammals. He has also published papers on metabolism and mitochondria function in mammalian eggs. |
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D N Rao Veeramachaneni, BVSc, MScVet, PhD Professor, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA His primary research interests are in male reproduction,spanning the areas of morphology, pathophysiology and toxicology. Working with a variety of farm, wild, and laboratory animals,his research seeks to determine if deteriorating reproductive health in males is really idiopathic, as male infertility often is labelled, or a consequence of exposure to environmental pollutants. |
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Erica Watson, PhD Research Fellow, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, UK Her research focuses on the effects of environmental influences on the epigenetic regulation of placental development, fetomaternal interactions, and germ cell reprogramming in mice. Of particular interest are the effects of vitamin deficiency on the regulation of trophoblast stem cells leading to a poor reproductive outcome, and on the regulation of DNA methylation in germ cells leading the persistence of congenital malformations over multiple generations. |
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Joachim Wistuba, PhD Researcher, Biologist, Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Münster, Germany His main research interests are in reproductive biology with a strong focus on spermatogenesis, aiming at the understanding of testicular organization, evolution and development. Additionally, he is working with various animal models using translational approaches to elucidate mechanisms resulting in human male infertility. |
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Kaiping Yang, PhD Professor of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Physiology & Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University; and Chair of Maternal, Fetal and Newborn Health Division, Children's Health Research Institute & Lawson Health Research Institute, London, Canada His current research interests include: molecular mechanisms of fetal growth restriction; early-life origins of central obesity; and impact of environmental exposure on fetal development. |
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STATISTICS: Andy Vail, MSc Professor of Clinical Biostatistics, University of Manchester, UK He is a statistician who has worked on research studies in reproductive medicine since the early 1990s. His interests lie in research design as well as in the presentation and interpretation of data. He collaborates widely with laboratory, clinical and epidemiological scientists. |
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