Dr Melanie McDowall

Biography/ Background

Postdoctoral Fellow
Early Development Group
The Robinson Institute
Research Centre for Reproductive Health

 

Qualifications

1998-1999: Bachelor of Science
The University of Adelaide

2000: Bachelor of Science (Honours)
Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, The University of Adelaide

2001-Conferred August 2005: Doctor of Philosophy (Health Science) 
Research Centre for Reproductive Health, The University of Adelaide
Title: The Rational Development of Improved In Vitro Maturation of Bovine Oocytes

Link to Thesis 

 

Awards & Achievements

2011 Australia Society for Medical Research South Australia Conference
Winner, Best Oral Presentation (Early Career Researcher)

2006-2007 Young Tall Poppy Science Award
This award recognises the contribution of early career scientists to their field of research and communicating science to the general public (link). Part of the award involves visiting high schools to discuss life as a scientist (Tall Poppies Reaching Kids).

2007 Australasian Hair and Wool Research Society
Travel scholarship recipient (International Congress of Hair Research Congress, Vancouver, Canada)

2004 Society for Reproductive Biology Annual Conference (Sydney NSW)
Travel scholarship recipient

2002 North West Adelaide Health Services Research Day
Finalist, Higher Degrees: Basic Science, Senior Students

2001 Society for Reproductive Biology Annual Conference (Gold Coast QLD)
Finalist, Junior Scientist Award and Travel scholarship recipient

2000 North West Adelaide Health Services Research Day
Winner, Basic Science, Honours student

 

Research Interests

Oocyte maturation

In vitro embryo production

Peri-conceptional environment

Glucose and hexose metabolism

 

Publications

Please note: Surname change from Sutton to McDowall, IF = impact factor and RIF = journal rating according to impact factor

Manuscripts

Hussein TS, Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2011) Temporal effects of exogenous oocyte-secreted factors on bovine oocyte developmental competence during in vitro maturation, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, Accepted (RD10323)

McDowall ML, Edwards NM & Hynd PI (2011) The effects of short-term manipulation of thyroid status coinciding with primary wool follicle development on fleece characteristics in Merino sheep, Animal, Accepted (doi:10.1017/S171731111000383)

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2010) The pivotal role of glucose metabolism in determining oocyte developmental competence, Reproduction, 139: 685-95. IF 3.136 RIF 5/24 Citations 5

Hynd PI, Edwards NM, Hebart M, McDowall M & Clark S (2009) Wool fibre crimp is determined by mitotic asymmetry and position of final keratinisation and not ortho- and para-cortical segmentation, Animal, 3 (6): 838-43.

McDowall M, Edwards NM, Jahoda CAB & Hynd PI (2008) The role of activins and follistatins in skin and hair follicle development and function, Cytokine and Growth Factor Reviews, 19 (5-6): 415-426. IF 11.816 Citations 1

Sutton-McDowall ML, Mitchell M, Cetica P, Dalvit G, Pantaleon M, Lane M, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2006) Glucosamine supplementation during in vitro maturation inhibits subsequent oocyte developmental competence: Possible role of the hexosamine pathway as a regulator of developmental competence, Biology of Reproduction, 74: 881-888. IF 3.583 RIF 3/24 Citations 13

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2005) Effect of hexoses and gonadotrophin supplementation on bovine oocyte nuclear maturation during in vitro maturation in a synthetic follicular fluid medium, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 17 (4): 407-415 IF 2.541 RIF 10/24 Citations 15

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2004) Cumulus-expansion and glucose utilisation by bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes during in vitro maturation: the influence of glucosamine and follicle stimulating hormone, Reproduction, 128 (3): 313-319 IF 3.136 RIF 5/24 Citations 27

Gangnuss S, Sutton-McDowall ML, Robertson SA & Armstrong DT (2004) Seminal plasma regulates corpora lutea macrophage populations during early pregnancy in mice, Biology of Reproduction, 71 (4): 1135-1141 IF 3.583 RIF 3/24 Citations 7

Sutton ML, Cetica PD, Beconi MT, Kind KL, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2003), The influence of oocyte-secreted factors and culture duration on the metabolic activity of bovine cumulus cell complexes, Reproduction, 126 (1): 27-34 IF 3.136 RIF 5/24 Citations 32

Sutton ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2003), Effects of in vivo and in vitro environments on metabolism of the cumulus-oocyte complex and its influence on oocyte developmental capacity, Human Reproduction Update, 9 (1): 35-48 IF 5.449 RIF 1/24 Citations 97

Peer Reviewed Conference Proceedings

Frank LA, Sutton-McDowall ML, Russel DL, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2011) Proteomic analysis of β-O-linked glycosylated proteins extracted from glucosamine-treated mouse cumulus-oocyte complexes reveals HSP90 glycosylation as a potential regulator of oocyte competence. Society for the Study of Reproduction conference, Portland Orgeon USA. Accepted

Hynd PI, McDowall M, Edwards NM & Prisciandaro L (2010) Glucose supplied to pregnant mice increases hair follicle initiation in the resulting pups, 6th World Congress for Hair Research, Cairns, Australia, Experimental Dermatology, 19 (6): 615.

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2010) Modulation of porcine nuclear maturation status using a specific phosphodiesterase inhibitor, International Embryo Transfer Society conference, Cordoba, Argentina, Abstract #356.

Frank L, Sutton-McDowall ML, Russell D, Lane M, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2009) The effect of altering glucose levels during collection and maturation of mouse oocytes on subsequent developmental competence, Society for Reproductive Biology conference, Adelaide, South Australia, Reproduction, Fertility and Development,

Hynd PI, Bawden CS, Rufaut N, Norris B, McDowall M, Nixon A, Yu Z, Pearson A, Nattrass G, Gordon-Thompson C, Moore GP & Dunn S (2009) An integrated genomics approach to improving wool productivity and quality, 30th Annual Conference of the Association for the Advancement of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Barossa Valley, South Australia.

McDowall ML, McGrice H, Penno NM, Nattrass G, Hebart ML & Hynd PI (2007) Activin A and follistatin influence pelage hair follicle development in mice, 5th International Congress of Hair Research, Vancouver, Canada, Abstract P-168.

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB and Thompson JG (2005), Glucosamine supplementation during in vitro maturation leads to perturbed developmental capacity of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes, International Embryo Transfer Society conference, Copenhagen, Denmark, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 17 (1-2), Abstract 300.

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB and Thompson JG (2004), Regulation of bovine oocyte meiotic and developmental capacity by glucose and glucosamine, Society for Reproductive Biology, Sydney, New South Wales, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 16 (supplement), Abstract 204.

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB and Thompson JG (2004), The effects of glucose and glucosamine on cumulus expansion and nuclear maturation of bovine cumulus oocyte complexes, Proceedings from the International Embryo Transfer Society conference, Portland, Oregon, USA, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 16 (1-2), Abstract 317.

Sutton ML, Cetica PD, Gilchrist RB and Thompson JG (2003), The metabolic profiles of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes: effects of oocyte-secreted factors and stimulation of cumulus expansion, Proceedings from the International Embryo Transfer Society conference, Auckland, New Zealand, Theriogenology, 59 (1), Abstract 500.

Sutton ML, Cetica PD, Gilchrist RB and Thompson JG (2002), The influence of the oocyte during in vitro maturation on the metabolism of bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes, Proceedings from the Society for Reproductive Biology, Adelaide, South Australia, Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 14 (supplement), Abstract 63.

Sutton ML, Robertson SA and Armstrong DT (2001), Effects of insemination on corpus luteum macrophage populations and progesterone secretion in mice, Proceedings from the Society for Reproductive Biology conference, Gold Coast, Queensland, Abstract 70.

Non-Peer Reviewed Conference Proceedings

Thompson JG, Schelbach S, McDowall M, Gilchrist R & Kind K (2009) Sore Knees or Infertility? Complementary Medicines affecting fertility. Scientists in Reproductive Technology Conference, Adelaide, South Australia.

McDowall ML, Penno NM, Jahoda C & Hynd PI (2006) Optimizing a fetal skin organ culture system: how hairy fetal skin aids developmental biology, Australian Society for Medical Research South Australian Annual Conference, Adelaide, South Australia.

McDowall ML, Penno NM, Jahoda C & Hynd PI (2006) Optimizing a Fetal Skin Organ Culture System to Study Pelage Hair Folliculogenesis in Mice, 2nd Stradie Skin and Hair Meeting, North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Australia.

Sutton-McDowall ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2004) Glucosamine supplementation during in vitro maturation perturbs bovine oocyte developmental capacity, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Day, Woodville, South Australia.

Sutton-McDowall ML & Thompson JG (2003) The importance of cellular communication during bovine oocyte maturation, Australian Embryo Transfer Society, Gold Coast, Queensland.

Sutton ML, Gilchrist RB & Thompson JG (2002) The influence of bovine oocytes on cumulus complex metabolism during in vitro maturation, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Day, Woodville, South Australia.

Sutton ML & Armstrong DT (2000) The effect of uterine exposure to seminal plasma on murine ovarian function, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Research Day, Woodville, South Australia.

 

Professional Associations

2001-2004, 2009-present: Society for Reproductive Biology

2002-2004, 2009-present: International Embryo Transfer Society

2011-present: Australian Society for Medical Research 

 

2004-2008: Sheep Genomics

2005-2008: Australasian Hair and Wool Research Society

2005-2009: Society for Investigative Dermatology (USA)

2007-2009: Australasian Wound & Tissue Repair Society

 

Community Engagement

2006-2008: Tall Poppies Reaching Kids

2005-2007: Regular contributions to the "Can You Believe It" column in The Advertiser

2006-2008: Web site administrator for the Wool sub-program of Sheep Genomic

 

Expertise for Media Contact

Categories	Fertility & reproduction
Expertise	Assisted reproduction; in vitro embryo production; metabolism; glucose

Entry last updated: Sunday, 5 Feb 2012