Recognising our reproductive biology champions
Researchers from the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute (BDI) were in the spotlight at this year’s Annual Scientific Meetings of the Endocrine Society of Australia and the Society for Reproductive Biology.
Three members of Dr Karla Hutt’s laboratory received awards for their work in the field of reproductive biology.
Dr Quynh-Nhu Nguyen received the Society of Reproductive Biology’s Oozoa Award. This award is given to acknowledge the best presentation (either oral or poster) by a student working on gametes (oocytes or sperm).
The work Dr Nguyen presented was on identifying the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of primordial follicle death following DNA-damaging chemotherapy. Dr Nguyen identified that the primary process involved is DNA damage to primordial follicle oocytes. The outcome of this work will help inform novel approaches to the development of effective neoadjuvant therapies to prevent chemotherapy-induced infertility and ovarian failure in girls and women.
Dr Amy Winship received the Society of Reproductive Biology’s Reproduction, Fertility & Development publication award. This is awarded for the best paper published in this journal in 2017.
In this paper, titled ‘Mouse double minute 2 (MDM2) homolog down regulation by miR-661 impairs human endometrial epithelial cell adhesive capacity’, the researchers analysed IVF blastocyst spent culture media with known pregnancy outcome and found that blastocyst secreted factors may be predictive of embryo implantation potential. This significant proof of principle study is the first to prove that secreted mircoRNA profiles are altered between blastocysts that successfully implant or, fail to implant, in an IVF setting. In combination with other altered microRNA, the techniques and findings in this report could pave the way for developing a panel of microRNA that could be used as a predictive biomarker test to determine embryo quality before they are transferred into women in the clinic and ultimately improve IVF outcomes.
This research was conducted by Dr Winship in her previous lab.
Dr Jessica Stringer received the Society of Reproductive Biology’s Award for Excellence. Each finalist had to give a lightening talk describing their work and present a poster to the panel of judges. Dr Stringer studies mechanisms of quality of life in the female germline. Her poster presentation was ‘DNA repair mechanisms responsible for safeguarding oocyte quality and offspring health’.
Dr Karla Hutt is extremely proud of her team’s success.
“My team is amazing, I’m very lucky,” Dr Hutt said.
“I am pleased to see their hard work and achievements being recognised in this way. They are the future leaders in the field of reproductive biology,” she said.
Dr Kelly Walton, from the Harrison lab, received an Australia Women in Endocrinology Outstanding Abstract Award at the Endocrine Society of Australia’s Scientific Meeting. Dr Walton’s abstract was titled ‘Systemic administration of propeptides attenuates activin A-induced cachetic wasting’.
Dr Walton presented this abstract in an oral presentation during the meeting. The study was undertaken in collaboration with Dr Walton’s recent PhD graduate Dr Justin Chen, and describes the pre-clinical validation of their anti-activin therapies in a mouse model of cancer-associated muscle wasting.
PhD student Laura Porter, from the Risbridger lab, received the Endocrine Society of Australia’s Novartis Junior Scientist Award. This award was presented for the best presentation at the scientific meeting by a person enrolled in a higher degree.
Ms Porter’s project is focused on characterising a prostate cancer sub-pathology called intraductal carcinoma of the prostate (IDC-P). The research team have found that there is a strong association between the presence of IDC-P and aggressive prostate cancer. Greater recognition and reporting of IDC-P may help to identify patients at risk of disease progression.
These multiple successes highlight the strength of the Monash BDI’s reproductive biology and endocrinology research areas. Congratulations to all recipients.
PhD student Laura Porter with one of her supervisors Dr Renea Taylor. Professor Gail Risbridger and Dr Mitchell Lawrence also supervise Ms Porter.
About the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute
Committed to making the discoveries that will relieve the future burden of disease, the newly established Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute at Monash University brings together more than 120 internationally-renowned research teams. Our researchers are supported by world-class technology and infrastructure, and partner with industry, clinicians and researchers internationally to enhance lives through discovery.