Table 12: Creating Your Network

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John Challis, PhD, FRCOG FRSC

What is Your Current Position?

Executive Director, Western Australia Health Translation Network (WAHTN);
University Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto; Professor, University of Western Australia

Responsible for developing an Advanced Health Research and Translation Centre (AHRTC in Western Australia, a co-operative between 5 Universities, 6 medical research institutes, 5 public health service boards, 2 private health care providers and the WA government (Dept of health, premier’s office and office of Science). Objective is to enhance the translational pipeline from discovery to practice, policy and commercialisation. WAHTN is one of 7 NHMRC accredited AHRTC’s in Australia.

What are your current research endeavors and/or other academic contributions?

Studies concerned with developmental programming and later life disease and with mechanisms of parturition and preterm birth

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?

Several cross roads, but working as a summer student and then PhD student with Dr Brian Heap (now Sir Brian Heap FRS)  A single author paper in Nature out of my PhD thesis was a great start, and a model in generosity from my supervisor

What is one piece of advice you would give to a trainee?

Have fun, work hard and always do your very best. Why wake in the morning to be only average?

 

Eun Lee, PhD

What is Your Current Position?

I am an assistant professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology affiliated with Immunology and Microbiology. 

I am a re-launcher meaning I have returned to an active research after 5.5 years of hiatus due to family situation. My background training is in transplant immunology and organ rejection. This unique training and qualification allows me to further explore the immunological rejection of the fetus.

What are your current research endeavors and/or other academic contributions?

My current research focuses on understanding the mechanism of ERAP2 in its immunological association to pathophysiology of preeclampsia, spontaneous miscarriages and clearance of uterine cancer.

I am actively involved in immunology curriculum development for medical education and a member of clinical curriculum council.

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?

Having the courage to come back to research when everyone has discouraged me under the current funding situation. I love research and education and couldn't stay or keep me away.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a trainee?

Never give up! Sometimes it will feel like a constant up hill battle…you can feel tired but never give up. Take a deep breath and take the next step.

 

Stephen Matthews, PhD

What is Your Current Position?

Professor of Physiology, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medicine at the University of Toronto.

What are your current research endeavors and/or other academic contributions?

I received my PhD from the University of Cambridge, UK in 1992. I was appointed to the University of Toronto in 1996 as an Assistant Professor, and served as Chair of the Department of Physiology 2007-2014.

My research is focused towards understanding how alterations in the fetal environment can affect developmental trajectories leading to modification of neurologic and endocrine function. Our recent research has established that the effects of altered fetal environments can extend across multiple generations. With a focus on epigenetics, my research team is determining the molecular mechanisms by which such ‘programming’ can occur. In a parallel program of study, our group is investigating drug and hormone transport mechanisms in the placenta and fetal brain, with a focus on developing novel treatments that modulate drug transport at these two sites, and that ultimately protect the fetus.

I am committed to translating fundamental research. I was founding co-director of the MAVAN program, which follows neurocognitive development in children following adverse early experience, and has been involved in a number of large international clinical trials.

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?

Moving from the UK to North America to join an internationally leading lab in perinatal research.

What is one piece of advice you would give to a trainee?

Always think about how your research can be translated to improve human health and well-being.