Reproductive Health

There are two fields in the major area of interest of Reproductive Health within CSRI, Obstetrics and Reproductive Medicine.

Reproductive Health: Obstetrics

Obstetric research, which is led by Professor Steve Thornton is subdivided into work on preterm labour and particularly as it relates to pre-eclampsia. Members of the preterm labour group have research interests that range from basic science through translational medicine to clinical trials. Current interests include:

  • molecular and physiological basis of tissue level electrogenesis in myometrium (Dr Andrew Blanks, Dr Tony Shmygol & Dr Gilles Bru-Mercier)
  • oxytocin receptor signal transduction (Dr Graham Ladds & Dr Jo Gullam)
  • the role of prostaglandins in human parturition (Dr Shirley Astle-Portlock)

Clinical studies (Prof S Thornton) investigate the use of electromyography (EMG) in the diagnosis and management of term and preterm labour and the role of drugs to prevent premature delivery. Dr Dimitris Grammatopoulos uses the corticotropin‑releasing hormone (CRH) as an experimental paradigm for cell signalling in the myometrium. The mechanisms regulating CRH‑receptor(R) signalling selectivity are being studied with particular reference to smooth muscle contractility and pre‑term labour (in collaboration with Dr M Johnson, Imperial College) and the placenta in pre‑eclampsia (in collaboration with Dr M Vatish).

Research on pre-eclampsia is led by Dr Manu Vatish (Clinical Senior Lecturer). The group focuses on the pathogenesis of placental dysfunction, with reference to intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) and pre-eclampsia. Recent work has identified a potential role of placental 2,3 bisphosphoglycerate in IUGR (Dr Mei Gu and Dr David Pritlove). The physiology of Urotensin II function in the placenta and placental vessels (Dr Philip Gould and Dr Mei Gu) and the physiology of the apelin receptor in placental vessel tone (Dr Paul Royle and Dr Philip Gould). ACE II has been identified at the feto-placental interface and its potential role in blood pressure homeostasis is currently being assessed. Human tissue, cell lines and a transgenic mouse model of pre-eclampsia are all used to study placental function. The group aims to identify G-protein coupled receptors (in collaboration with Dr D Grammatopoulos) involved in determining placental vascularisation, and the relationship with both fetal nutrition and maternal hypertension.

The group has extensive collaborative links within the University (Systems Biology, Biological Sciences), within the UK (Universities of Cambridge, Glasgow, Manchester and Imperial College) and overseas (USA and The Netherlands).

Reproductive Medicine

Dr Geraldine Hartshorne (Professorial Fellow) leads the Reproductive Medicine group. Our research focuses on improving understanding of reproductive potential in males and females, and applying the results to promote or inhibit fertility. We work closely with the Centre for Reproductive Medicine at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust, to improve techniques for infertility diagnosis and assisted conception treatment.

Our interests range from basic scientific research, through clinical application and trials, to the ethical and sociological dimensions of this discipline. Current areas of active interest include:

  • telomere measurement in human gametes, embryos and embryonic stem cells (Dr Hiu-Pak Wong & Ms Sarah Turner)
  • promotion and diagnosis of human blastocyst formation (Dr S Montgomery)
  • oogenesis in vitro (Prof G Hartshorne)
  • 3-dimensional and virtual reality modelling of embryos (Prof G Hartshorne)
  • decision-making by cancer clinicians about offering sperm banking to their patients (Prof G Hartshorne & Dr A Adams)

University of Warwick collaborators are based in Systems Biology, the Digital Laboratory and the Institute of Health. We also collaborate with colleagues at University Hospital Copenhagen.