Studies for pregnant women

The Oxford Safer Pregnancy Alliance (OSPREA) recruits pregnant women for a range of observational and interventional studies. We are supported by the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, (part of the University of Oxford) the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and the Thames Valley & South Midlands Clinical Research Network, part of the National Institute for Health Research.

Pregnant women take part in pioneering diabetes prevention research

Pregnant women are invited by the University of Oxford and the NHS to take part in the world’s first clinical trial to prevent type 1 diabetes in babies and infants. Selina Coleman from Bicester, Oxfordshire, whose daughter Zara was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes aged 13 months, welcomed the studies. “Research into preventing diabetes sounds really amazing. For someone to have that chance to live without it and have that freedom would be great.”

Diabetes raises risk of cancer, with women at even greater likelihood

A global review involving almost 20 million people has shown that having diabetes significantly raises the risk of developing cancer, and for women the risk is even higher.

INGR1D Study in the Thames Valley

INGR1D is a large screening study in the Thames Valley to identify infants who are at risk of developing type 1 diabetes. The test is available as part of a research study being carried out by staff of the NHS and the University of Oxford.

2nd UK Fertility Preservation Conference

Please join us at the 2nd UK Fertility Preservation Conference on Friday 14th September at St. Anne's College, Oxford. It will focus on recent advances in fertility preservation for girls, boys, women and men, as well as including highly topical aspects of fertility preservation for non-malignant conditions. There will be expert national and international speakers who will discuss the latest research and key developments.

GDm-Health app award

Dr Lucy Mackillop, Dr Jane Hirst and their team have won an award at the University’s first Vice-Chancellor’s Innovation Awards. Their GDm-healthTM: real-time management of gestational diabetes project was awarded ‘highly commended’ in the ‘Team Work’ category. The GDm-Health app allows pregnant women to track their blood glucose levels and stay in touch with their healthcare team.

What we do

The Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health encompasses multi-disciplinary research across the full spectrum of women’s health. Our work has four overarching themes; Cancer, Global Health, Maternal & Fetal Health and Reproductive Medicine & Genetics. We also teach students and provide clinical care for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. The department also includes The George Institute for Global Health (TGI) whose mission is to increase access to quality health care for millions of people worldwide - with a particular focus on vulnerable women in resource-poor settings. Find out more

CANCER

Cancer small

Learn about the genesis and formation of micrometastases in Ovarian Cancer and how they can develop resistance to chemotherapy.

GLOBAL HEALTH

Global Health

Explore what can happen to mother and infant in the time before and after birth, such as infections, low birthweights and much more.

MATERNAL & FETAL HEALTH

Fetal

Discover more about health and disease throughout pregnancy and the effects on maternal and fetal outcome in both the short and the long term.

REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE & GENETICS

Repro

Read about infertility, pelvic pain, therapies for mitochondrial disease and improvement of assisted reproductive technologies (ART).

Postgraduate study

We run three world class Postgraduate study programmes: MSc in Clinical Embryology (1 year residential programme) MSc by Research (2 years research degree) and DPhil (3-4 years research degree). Click on the slideshows below for more details on each course. Please note we are now closed for applications for entry in October 2018. We will open for applications for entry in October 2019 in early September 2018.

MSc global reach

The MSc in Clinical Embryology was established in 2008 and since then, we have taught 126 graduate students from 39 countries around the world. The course has won numerous University awards for teaching innovation and excellence.

MSc teaching site

The MSc course is based alongside IVI UK in purpose-built premises Winchester House, Oxford Science Park, with dedicated state-of-the-art teaching and research facilities.

MSc practical training

Our MSc course was specifically designed to include intense laboratory practical training. Students learn skills and techniques directly relevant to assisted reproductive technology (ART), as well as a range of ‘traditional’ and ‘cutting edge’ scientific techniques and procedures.

MSc state of the art laboratories

Our world class MSc in Clinical Embryology course provides students with theoretical and practical understanding of human reproductive biology, embryology, infertility and ART including the very latest developments in ART, legislation, ethics, and quality control.

Research degree projects

There are a variety of projects available for DPhil and MSc by Research students. Click below to see a summary of all projects and their corresponding supervisors. Please note we are now closed for applications for entry in October 2018. Our projects might be available for entry in October 2019, so do feel free to contact supervisors.

Director of Graduate Studies

Professor Krina Zondervan is our Director of Graduate Studies. We offer a two-year MSc by Research and a three-year DPhil. These involve undertaking independent research in your chosen area under the supervision of an expert in your field.

2nd UK Fertility Preservation Conference

9 August 2018
GDm-Health app wins innovation award

6 August 2018
Diabetes raises risk of cancer, with women at even greater likelihood, a major new study has found

23 July 2018
Pregnant women invited to take part in pioneering diabetes prevention research

12 July 2018
Translational Research in Pelvic Pain

9 July 2018
Dr Jenny Tran wins Asian Women of Achievement Award

17 May 2018
Prof Terry Dwyer to step down as Executive Director

27 March 2018

More news

Senior Dept Staff

Stephen Kennedy

Head of Department & Professor of Reproductive Medicine
Lesa Levett

Head of Administration & Finance
Robyn Norton

Acting Executive Director, The George Institute, UK.
Krina Zondervan

Professor of Reproductive & Genomic Epidemiology, Co-Director Endometriosis CaRe centre, Director of Graduate Studies

Jobs

https://data.ox.ac.uk/feeds/vacancies/23232645

Find out more

Where we work

We are located across four Oxford sites: the Women's Centre, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Winchester House and Le Gros Clark Building. See more Looking for someone? View our team of researchers and research support staff, graduate research students and administrative staff here