Reproductive Physiology

Major Research Themes

• understanding the cellular, endocrine and immune interactions involved in the control and co-ordination of reproduction,
• the development and application of leading edge reproductive technologies. Our work is focussed primarily on animal reproduction, but has application to human fertility.

Research Programmes

• The ability to improve the efficiency of livestock reproduction is of particular interest. Understanding the basic cell biology of the reproductive organs, the physiology of the reproductive system and endocrine control and regulation of this system is an important goal to this end. In this laboratory, we have a particular interest in the impact of the environment on these processes (eg. temperature extremes, environmental toxicants, nutrition, seasonality). The use of techniques such as artificial insemination and embryo transfer are important for this work, as are the newer technologies involved in the production of transgenic animals and animal cloning which are being used in some of our research projects.

• The use of such knowledge combined with an understanding of the immune system is the basis for our interest in developing immunological approaches to the control of animal reproduction (immuno-contraception). This is a particularly valuable tool in the control of pest animal populations and explains our involvement in the Cooperative Research Centre for Pest Animal Control. We are currently investigating the ability to use vector-delivered immuno-contraceptive vaccines to control feral Pig populations.