Ovarian Physiology, Gametogenesis and Embryogenes

Principal invesitgators: Kate Hardy and Stephen Franks

Scientific Staff

• Mark Fenwick PhD (BBSRC funded)
• Jossie Mora (BBSRC funded)
• Sharron Stubbs PhD (Wellcome Trust funded)

Graduate Students

• Fabio Comim (funded by Brazilian Government)
• Jalini Joharatnam MBBS (funded by Wellbeing of Women)
• Angelos Skodras (funded by Walker Bequest)

Aims

Kate Hardy and Stephen Franks are joint group leaders of a laboratory that focuses on physiology and disorders of the ovary. Using both animal models and human studies, the principal aims of the group are:

• To understand the key processes that dictate the initiation of growth and normal development of ovarian follicles (Lead: Kate Hardy)
• To understand the aetiology of polycystic ovary syndrome, a common ovarian disorder of women that has profound reproductive and metabolic consequences (Lead: Stephen Franks)