'Developing Science, Developing Careers'

I have been a student in the Reproductive Immunology Laboratory of Associate Professor Sarah Robertson within the RCRH, since I began Honours in 2003. Some four years later, I am currently writing my PhD thesis.

My research focuses on the cellular mechanisms by which the mother's immune system is made aware of pregnancy. This critical process allows the mother's immune system to be tolerant of the foetus, resulting in a healthy pregnancy, as an aggressive, attacking immune response can lead to pathologies of pregnancy including pre-term labour and miscarriage. My investigations have unlocked some of the cellular mechanisms that are required to activate maternal immune tolerance. In the future, this research will be translated into therapeutic strategies that will treat recurrent miscarriage and enhance pregnancy outcomes for expectant mothers.

I have been fortunate to work in an environment with a range of mentors with diverse interests and experimental technologies. This has provided me with a broad knowledge and understanding of reproductive biology. The supportive network of researchers within the RCRH has given me the skills and afforded me the attributes required to take the first steps towards building a long, productive and fulfilling career as a researcher in health science.

Rachael Nowak
Placental Research

I completed a Degree in Medical and Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Honours at the University of South Australia in 2002 before going to work at the IMVS veterinary services division for 2 years.

During this time I came to realise my keen interest in the genetic predisposition to disease states and decided to pursue this field of study by undertaking a PhD in the Placental Development Laboratory of Associate Professor Claire Roberts. The focus of my research is determining if mutations within certain genes affect pregnancy outcome, with the hope that these changes could potentially be screened for and used to assess a couple's risk of developing a pregnancy disorder even before conception.

Being part of the RCRH has enabled me to learn from a wide range of scientists in a supportive environment and has given me the opportunity to share my research throughout Australia by presenting at various workshops and conferences. I plan to finish my PhD within the next 18 months and look forward to pursuing a research career in the field of reproductive health.

I began working for Associate Professor Dave Kennaway as a technician in 1999, assisting in a broad range of research areas under the banner of Circadian Physiology.

I completed honours in 2002 and began my PhD in 2003. Much to my surprise I soon discovered circadian rhythms pervade all aspects of physiology from the more obvious sleep-wake cycle, to the not so obvious changes in heart rate, core body temperature and hormone secretion that occur across the day. This temporal order allows organisms to predict changes in their environment and presumably provides an evolutionary advantage as everything from nematodes to mammals display circadian rhythms. This means that disruption of circadian rhythms has the potential to affect the health of the organism. In fact, various studies have shown that shiftworkers, who experience significant circadian rhythm disruption, are more likely to develop chronic illnesses such as cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Working in the Circadian Physiology Group gave me the opportunity to begin my own research career in a lab with an international reputation for research excellence. In addition to providing further understanding of the control of the circadian system, we believe this research will provide a means by which to manipulate rhythms. This is particularly important in situations where circadian rhythms are disrupted due to intrinsic disorders, or due to disorders caused by living in a 24 hour society.

I completed my Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Adelaide, majoring in biochemistry and infection & immunity. I was unsure of where I wanted my studies to lead following my graduation. Being a child born from reproductive technology, I had an interest in the field of reproductive medicine, and the concept of doing research in this area was very appealing.

I completed my honours degree with Dr Michelle Lane at the RCRH, focusing on the effects of stress at varying stages of invitro pre-implantation embryo development. I found this year very rewarding and it strengthened my interest in making medical research my career. I am now taking this area of interest further and doing my PhD with Dr Lane and Associate Professor Jeremy Thompson, focusing on the involvement of mitochondria on an embryo's stress response, during the early stages of pre-implantation embryo development. I am also interested in how a stress applied at this early stage can impact on embryo viability and subsequent fetal health.

The past few years at RCRH have been fantastic, allowing me to become an independent thinker and develop my research skills. It is a fun and challenging environment and has given me the unique opportunity of travelling and presenting my work on both national and international platforms. During my PhD I have also been fortunate to work as a clinical embryologist for Repromed, Adelaide's major fertility clinic, allowing the connection between research in the lab using animal models and eventual clinical application. Being able to talk to patients and see their joy when they achieve their dream of becoming parents is an awesome experience that has helped me understand why reproductive research is so important.