Infertility is one of the greatest global health challenges we currently face with data suggesting 15% of all reproductive-aged couples are affected by infertility. For many, infertility is a preventable outcome resulting from insufficient knowledge about fertility and behaviours that compromise reproductive health, including age. We urgently need novel preventative solutions to address and improve human fertility. My research program focusses on determining the underlying causes of age-related infertility in women alongside improving reproductive health knowledge in adolescents. I do this by combining my expertise in cutting-edge discovery science with public health promotion and education.
My discovery research has been instrumental in demonstrating that unregulated primordial follicle activation results in premature infertility. Most recently, I have applied single cell RNA sequencing to assemble a complete database of the transcriptomic heterogeneity of the supportive granulosa cells of the ovary during follicle activation. I am currently using this novel dataset to determine the regulatory factors driving granulosa cell differentiation and the functional significance of these factors to ovary and follicle development using biological modelling.
To identify the fertility knowledge gaps in adolescents, this year, my team surveyed 1,466 15–18-year-old Australia-based school students. Our participants represented diverse socio-demographic groups and although 61% confirmed their desire to have children in the future, an alarming 81% stated they did not believe that school could answer their sexual education questions. Concerningly, fertility related questions, not mandated within the national curricula, were the most poorly answered. Moving forward, I am using these findings to develop and evaluate a high efficacy, long-lasting fertility education intervention appropriately aligned to relevant syllabus skills statements and UNESCO international learning objectives.
The outcomes of my research encompass fundamental biological discoveries and applied educational reforms, with the capacity to benefit human reproductive health across the entire translational cycle.