Cancer need not be fatal

This is the core mission of Singula Bio – a new Oxford spinout that will develop neoantigen-based individualised cell therapies to use against difficult-to-treat solid malignancies such as ovarian cancer.

100 Women of Oxford Medical Sciences

It's 100 years since women were admitted as full members of the University of Oxford and women now hold vital posts at all levels of this institution. The Medical Sciences Division asked 100 of these women (including four from our department) to take part in a project to reflect on their journeys, their place in Medical Sciences and their vision for the next 100 years. Read more on the MSD website.

Living BioBank launched: Nature's SAFE

Europe's first living Biobank has been created - it stores the reproductive cells of endangered animals to save them from extinction. Prof Suzannah Williams is working with the charity Nature’s SAFE as their Chief Scientist. She commented: “Nature’s SAFE has true functional relevance by proactively preserving cells and reproductive tissues from endangered and threatened species, whilst numbers are viable and genetic diversity is high.

Our research on COVID-19

How is the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? There is lots to be proud of - various papers, studies, surveys plus a generous donation of over 11,000 pieces of PPE to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from an ex dept member!

New classification system: "Oxford Classic"

The new, Oxford-developed method for subtyping ovarian cancer has been validated in a recent collaboration between the University of Oxford and Imperial College London. Dubbed the ‘Oxford Classic’, researchers have demonstrated that it enables the accurate prediction of patient disease outcome, as well as the development of new targeted cancer therapies.

Scan academy webinars

Congratulations to Prof Aris Papageorghiou who launched an exciting new initiative called scan.academy during the COVID-19 lockdown. Scan.academy is dedicated to improving obstetric ultrasound through state-of-the-art education and offers free masterclass webinars by world class experts in women's health.

We focus on genetic studies, the dissection of molecular, biochemical and cellular mechanisms underlying normal and aberrant reproductive tissue function, clinical studies in women’s health, pregnancy, growth and development in the first 1000 days of life.

About us

The Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health (NDWRH) is one of the largest and most successful academic departments in the world in its field. We have over 160 members including senior academic staff, clinicians, research support staff, professional staff and graduate students carrying out research towards a higher degree.

Our clinical and laboratory-based research programmes are based in the Women’s Centre, the Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine (both at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford) and the Institute of Reproductive Sciences (IRS) and the Big Data Institute. There are extensive collaborations with a number of University Science Departments and other research groups in the UK and abroad.

The department's main offices are on level 3 of the Women’s Centre (John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford) which is responsible for the care of over 7,000 pregnant women and over 7,500 new gynaecology patients per year. Read more

Achievements

Established in 1937, The Nuffield Department of Women's and Reproductive Health has been innovating, teaching, pioneering and evolving women's health for more than 80 years.

See a timeline of our key achievements here.

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Study

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. © Medical Sciences Division and John Cairns

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).

Research

Our Reproductive Medicine & Genetics research covers the following research groups: Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART); Endometriosis; Fertility Preservation; Miscarriage; Oocytes and Ovaries; Pain in Women; Rhino Fertility Project and Sperm.

Our research has four overarching themes; Cancer, Global Health, Maternal & Fetal Health and Reproductive Medicine & Genetics, and within these themes, there are thirty two research groups in the department.

Outreach

Photo of EndoCaRe Centre students teaching pupils at Cheney School.

Our staff and students regularly do outreach and engagement work to improve the public's understanding of women's health issues.

Find out more

Staff and Student quick links

Restricted access for NDWRH staff and students only, SSO is required.

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COVID-19 updates
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NDWRH Mental health resources