BRC to bolster world-class research in Women’s Health at UCLH and UCL

This work – to improve the health of women and their babies around the world – is carried out by teams within the UCLH Women’s Health Division and the UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health.

Now, the BRC is aiming to strengthen this world-class research even further, through support which means that, in effect, Women’s Health is a ‘shadow theme’ of the BRC. The aim is for Women’s Health to be a theme in the next round of BRC funding from the NIHR.

Addressing inequalities

Professor Anna David, consultant in obstetrics and maternal/fetal medicine at UCLH, oversees Women’s Health research at UCLH and UCL. She is supported by the BRC.

Prof David said: “Women’s health is an area of research which traditionally, around the world, has been under-supported. For conditions that only affect women, less investment has been put into new approaches to diagnostics, treatment and care. This has led to inequalities in care. We want to address these inequalities and generate insights which will improve the healthcare available to women – locally, nationally and internationally.”

Professor David is leading teams of researchers who are involved in a large portfolio of studies. These include trials of novel imaging and interventions to improve early detection of fetal problems, and reduce preterm birth and stillbirth, to studies testing therapies for infertility, menopause, and early prediction of ovarian cancer. The portfolio of research focusses on  important areas highlighted in the UK government’s Vision for Women’s Health Strategy.

Improving the health of people with complex congenital conditions

UCLH is a leading centre in the treatment of children and adolescents with gynaecological issues. They also provide care to people with differences of sex development (DSD)/intersex conditions and complex congenital anomalies (structural differences with womb or vaginal development).

Research led by consultant Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr Sophie Clarke aims to better understand the impact of treatment decisions on patients with these conditions, including on their metabolic and lifelong health. The team will work with patients to identify priorities for research. The hope is that further understanding will ultimately lead to advances in patient care.

Simplifying and optimising fertility treatment

One area of research receiving specific support from the BRC aims to simplify and optimise fertility treatment.

A team led by UCLH consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Mr Dimitrios Mavrelos will use modern methods such as artificial intelligence to simplify IVF cycle monitoring, and make IVF treatment easier for women with busy lives and other responsibilities.

The research will develop new ways of helping women with existing gynaecological conditions conceive.

Finding the most effective treatment for premature menopause

The POISE study supported by the BRC aims to find the most effective treatment for premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) – also known as premature menopause – where a woman’s ovaries stop working normally before the age of 40.

The study, lead by consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist Professor Melanie Davies, will help women with POI in the short and long term, to reduce menopause side effects and longer-term health issues.

Working with data

A new role funded by the BRC is designed to enable researchers to make better use of data in research. Accessing the right data for research can be complex, and a new data manager is to work on making data in Women’s Health more accessible, more reusable once it has been collected, and collected in UCLH’s electronic health record system in a way which makes it more easily understandable to researchers.

The role is an example of Women’s Health researchers working collaboratively with wider UCLH Data teams.

External links

UCLH Women’s Health Division

UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health

Tommy's National Centre for Preterm Research at UCL – where some UCLH and UCL research in reducing preterm birth takes place.

Tommy’s National Centre for Preterm Research

Image credit: Syda Productions / Adobe Stock