Caroline Gargett
Prof Gargett (PhD 1997) is world-renowned for discovering stem/progenitor cells in human endometrium, the highly regenerative lining of the uterus, thereby establishing a new field of research in reproductive biology. Prof Gargett formed the Endometrial Stem Cell Biology Group at The Ritchie Centre in 2004 following the award of the top scoring NHMRC New Investigator grant to study endometrial stem cell biology. Having since determined the identity of the endometrial epithelial progenitor cell (bases of branching glands) and mesenchymal stem cells (around blood vessels) through discovery of novel surface markers for each cell type, Prof Gargett is now applying these breakthroughs to common gynaecological disorders. The group currently comprises 5 postdoctoral scientists, 3 support staff and 6 students. Find out more from Prof Caroline Gargett's Monash profile.
In the media
Pelvic Organ Prolapse is not a sexy topic but it should be. Pelvic organ prolapse is a condition that affects one in five of us. It’s the reason we work so hard on our pelvic floor exercises during pregnancy. But one in five women will still need surgery to fix it.
In ABC’s Babytalk podcast, Prof Caroline Gargett National talks about the damage that can occur during childbirth, the options women have and the opportunities for new treatments.
Endometriosis is not a sexy topic either, despite one in ten young women having the condition. Endometriosis takes up to 10 years to diagnose, and causes severe pelvic pain and infertility. There is no cure and it often recurs after surgery.
In this explainer in The Conversation, Prof Caroline Gargett and her team write about why it takes so long for endometriosis to be diagnosed.
Selected publications
- Masuda H*, Schwab KE*, Filby CE*, Tan CSC, Tsaltas J, Weston GC, Gargett CE (2021) Endometrial stem/progenitor cells in menstrual blood and peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 43:3-13.
- Mukherjee S, Darzi S, Rosamilia A, Kadam V, Truong Y, Werkmeister JA, Gargett CE (2019) Blended nanostructured degradable mesh with Endometrial Stem Cells promote Tissue and anti-inflammatory response in vivo for pelvic floor application. Biomacromolecules 20: 454-468.
- Nguyen H, Xiao L, Deane JA, Tan KS, Cousins FL, Masuda H, Sprung CM, Rosamilia A, Gargett CE (2017) N-cadherin identifies human endometrial epithelial progenitor cells by in vitro stem cell assays. Human Reproduction 32:2254-2268.
- Gargett CE, Schwab KE, Deane JA (2016) Endometrial Stem/progenitor cells: the first 10 years. Human Reproduction Update 22:137-163 (IF11.194;
- Ulrich D, Edwards SL, Su C, Tan KS, White JF, Ramshaw JAM, Lo C, Rosamilia A, Werkmeister JA. Gargett CE (2014) Human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells modulate the tissue response and mechanical behavior of polyamide mesh implants for pelvic organ prolapse repair. Tissue Engineering Part A 20:785-798 Featured on the Front Cover 14.39 Oct 7, 2013
*Joint first author publication