• Abigail Blatchford Freeman (2nd Year DPhil Student)
  

• Maeve Janecka (1st Year DPhil Student)

 SUPERVISION METRICS

Number of DPhil students supervised to completion: 5

Number of MSc students supervised in laboratory: +20

2018 - OxTALENT Award (Teaching & Learning Enhanced with New Technology). Awarded to Mrs Celine Jones, Mrs Laura Rose, Dr Rebecca Dragovic and Dr Kevin Coward for the development of integrated online tools to develop deeper learning styles and provide interactive feedback routes.

2017 - Most Acclaimed Lecturer Award (Medical Sciences). Awarded by the Oxford University Students Union (OUSU).

I completed a BSc with first class honours (2003) followed by a Masters in Medical Science (2006) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Adelaide. In 2007 I moved to the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health to take charge of the flow cytometry facility in the laboratory of Professor Ian Sargent and Professor Chris Redman. During this time I obtained my DPhil (2012) in which I focused on characterising blood-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. As part of my DPhil studies, I pioneered the use of Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA) for this purpose. From 2012-2015, I worked in the same laboratory as a post-doctoral researcher, using multi-colour flow cytometry and NTA to characterise human syncytiotrophoblast EVs in normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia using a dual placental perfusion model.

I am currently the Course Director for the MSc in Clinical Embryology, having worked previously for eight years on the course as a post-doctoral teaching fellow. Working alongside Professor Kevin Coward and Mrs Celine Jones, the course aims to provide graduates with advanced theoretical and practical knowledge of human reproductive biology, embryology, infertility and assisted reproductive technology (ART). Our multi award-winning course aims to train, inspire and motivate future leaders in clinical embryology and reproductive science.

In addition to my Director role, my research focuses on EVs in Endometriosis, working in the Endometriosis CaRe Centre with Professors Krina Zondervan, Christian Becker and Dr Jen Southcombe.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) and their role in endometriosis

Our research in the Endometriosis CaRe Centre examines the involvement of EVs in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We are studying EVs within the peritoneal cavity, focusing on their interactions with endometrial cells and immune cells. Our work aims to study how these EVs contribute to disease symptoms, and their potential use as diagnostic/therapeutic biomarkers.

I gained accreditation for my teaching through the Staff and Educational Development Association (SEDA). I hold a Supporting Learning Award (2017) and a Learning, Teaching and Asssessing Award (2019), both of which are aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework.

In addition to teaching on the MSc in Clinical Embryology, I am a tutor on the Medical Sciences Division Preparing and Learning at Oxford (PLTO) 'Tutorials' course.