News

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.

Accurate predictions of ovarian cancer outcome possible with new classification system

15 January 2021

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.

Professor Terry Dwyer, from the Nuffield Department of Women’s & Reproductive Health is lead author of a study to determine if physical activity reduces cardiovascular disease risk.

No limit to the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

14 January 2021

A new study led by the University of Oxford on over 90,000 participants shows that there is no upper threshold to the benefits of exercise in reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease – ‘every move counts towards better cardiovascular health.

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.

Scan academy webinars

16 December 2020

Celebrating the successful launch of scan.academy - an initiative dedicated to improving obstetric ultrasound through state-of-the-art education.

A fantastic achievement for DPhil student Toluwalase Awoyemi from Prof Vatish's research group! He is recognised with an Africa 35.35 Award - a celebration of the top 35 leading young changemakers under 35 in Africa in 2020.

Africa’s 35 Under 35 Award

18 November 2020

A fantastic achievement for DPhil student Toluwalase Awoyemi from Prof Vatish's research group! He is recognised with an Africa 35.35 Award - a celebration of the top 35 leading young changemakers under 35 in Africa in 2020.

Young Scientist Award

17 November 2020

Congratulations to Magda Marečková! Our DPhil student and student committee president has won this year's special prize, the Special Young Scientist Award at the Fast Forward Science 2020 web-video competition. She wins for her compelling video: "Heavy periods, intense pain and no one to talk to. Could you have Endometriosis?

Dr Joris Hemelaar, University Research Lecturer and expert in maternal HIV infection at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, has published a new article: "Global and regional epidemiology of HIV-1 recombinants in 1990-2015" in the Lancet HIV.

HIV-1 recombinants: The challenges of increasing genetic diversity

10 November 2020

Dr Joris Hemelaar, University Research Lecturer and expert in maternal HIV infection at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, published a new article: "Global and regional epidemiology of HIV-1 recombinants in 1990-2015" in the Lancet HIV.

Celebrating new full professors

3 November 2020

Congratulations are in order for three of our professors (Papageorghiou, Rahimi and Vatish) who have each been awarded full professor titles in this year's University Recognition of Distinction exercise.

The department's senior fellow in perinatal health Dr Jane Hirst – who leads global research into gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth and stillbirth – has been awarded a Fellowship of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders. Congratulations!

Dr Jane Hirst awarded Fellowship of the UKRI Future Leaders

15 October 2020

The department's senior fellow in perinatal health Dr Jane Hirst – who leads global research into gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), preterm birth and stillbirth – has been awarded a Fellowship of the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Future Leaders.

The GaPP2 trial - a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of gabapentin for the management of chronic pelvic pain in women, finds the drug is ineffective. The research findings have been published in The Lancet.

Common pelvic pain drug is ineffective

25 September 2020

The GaPP2 trial - a multi-centre randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of gabapentin for the management of chronic pelvic pain in women, finds the drug is ineffective.

The OxNNet toolkit led by Prof Sally Collins in the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health,
will receive a share of £50M funding from the NIHR. This exciting project seeks to develop a fully automated ultrasound tool to screen for fetal growth restriction (FGR) in the first trimester.

NIHR funds groundbreaking Oxford University research into using AI to predict growth restricted babies

8 September 2020

A number of cutting edge artificial intelligence (AI) technologies will be tested and scaled in the NHS, as the first winners of the AI in Health and Care Award, sharing approximately £50m.

Nautilus Academic Award - Jossey Agyeman-Duah

23 July 2020

DPhil student Jossey Agyeman-Duah wins an Nautilus Academic Award from Green Templeton College. The award recognises students who have gone beyond the call of duty to make an outstanding contribution to improving the college environment.

New Associate Professor and University Lecturer Titles have been awarded by the University of Oxford to key staff at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health. Congratulations to them all on these deserved new titles which recognise their substantial research and teaching contributions in the department.

Celebrating New Titles in NDWRH

21 July 2020

New Associate Professor and University Lecturer Titles have been awarded by the University of Oxford to key department staff at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health.

Sterile water injections have been shown to provide effective pain-relief for women with persistent lower back pain in labour. The ICARIS trial, published in The Lancet journal EClinical Medicine was a collaboration between Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Oxford and the University of Queensland, Australia. The research team say that their research proves that water injections are simple, effective and safe, and have no effect on birth outcomes.

Water injections shown to relieve back pain in labour

6 July 2020

Sterile water injections have been shown to provide effective pain-relief for women with persistent lower back pain in labour. The ICARIS trial, published in The Lancet journal EClinical Medicine was a collaboration between Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) NHS Foundation Trust, the University of Oxford and the University of Queensland, Australia. The research team say that their research proves that water injections are simple, effective and safe, and have no effect on birth outcomes.

Our research on COVID-19

23 June 2020

How is the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health responding to the COVID-19 pandemic? Our researchers are busy collaborating and working hard to help combat the COVID-19 crises.There is lots to be proud of - various papers, studies, surveys and wonderful gestures of goodwill, including the generous donation of over 11,000 pieces of PPE to Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust from an ex dept member!

Researchers at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health are seeking funding for a large, international study to evaluate the effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy. The INTERCOVID study will provide women, families, health care providers and policy makers with high-quality evidence regarding the effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy on the health of the mother, fetus and newborn.

Global study to assess the effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy launched

28 April 2020

Researchers at the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health are seeking funding for a large, international study to evaluate the effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy. The INTERCOVID study will provide women, families, health care providers and policy makers with high-quality evidence regarding the effects of Covid-19 in pregnancy on the health of the mother, fetus and newborn.

An online fundraising appeal for coronavirus (COVID-19) research at Oxford has raised more than £50,000 (and counting) from over 200 individuals after launching just two weeks ago. The donations will be deployed immediately, boosting projects ranging from vaccine development to the delivery of new drugs to treat the virus.

Public appeal for Oxford’s COVID-19 research

7 April 2020

An online fundraising appeal for coronavirus (COVID-19) research at Oxford has raised more than £50,000 from over 200 individuals after launching just two weeks ago. The donations will be deployed immediately, boosting projects ranging from vaccine development to the delivery of new drugs to treat the virus.

An article on what is a safe child bearing age by Principal Investigator Dr Suzannah Williams and DPhil student Charlotte Walker from the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproduction Health, was among the most-read pieces of 2018-19 from Oxford academics in the academic journal The Conversation. It had almost a quarter of a million reads shared between the original and its French and Spanish translations.

What is the ‘right’ age to have a child?

11 March 2020

An article on what is a safe child bearing age by Principal Investigator Dr Suzannah Williams and DPhil student Charlotte Walker from the Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproduction Health, was among the most-read pieces of 2018-19 from Oxford academics in the academic journal The Conversation. It had almost a quarter of a million reads shared between the original and its French and Spanish translations.