Table 2: Your First SRI Meeting

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Sarah England, PhD

What is Your Current Position?

I am the Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Medicine and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University. I also serve as the Associate Director of the March of Dimes Prematurity Research Center at Washington University and the Associate Director of the Center for Reproductive Health Sciences. 

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

My laboratory studies the molecular mechanisms underlying uterine function during pregnancy. My laboratory has three main lines of investigation: One focus is to determine how sodium- and calcium-activated K⁺ channels in the myometrium modulate uterine excitability and contractility during gestation and parturition. Second, we are investigating the role and regulation of the oxytocin receptor in controlling uterine excitability. Lastly, we are studying how disruptions in endogenous circadian rhythms affect pregnancy outcomes.

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?

I was a 2005-06 Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow and worked in the office of Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton for one year working on policies related to maternal child health issues, women’s health, the healthcare workforce, and health disparities.

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

Resilience will get you far in this career. You need to be a weeble, you can wobble but don’t fall down. 

 

Murray Mitchell, Dphil, DSc

What is Your Current Position?

Professor at The University of Queensland Centre for Clinical Research.

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

Causes and consequences of preterm labor and delivery. I am particularly interested in diagnostics and prognostics for high-risk pregnancy. Current focus on exosomes and linkage to pathways of arachidonic acid biosynthesis, metabolism and actions.

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?

Several key moments –all could have been pivotal.

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

Be persistent

 

Les Myatt, PhD FRCOG

What is Your Current Position?

I am currently Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director of Perinatal Research, Endowed Professor in the Bob and Charlee Moore Institute of Nutrition and Wellness and leader of the Placental Origins of Disease group in the Center for Developmental Health at the Oregon Health & Science University, Portland.

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

My research interests are control of fetal placental vascular reactivity, the effects of maternal obesity, gestational diabetes and sexual dimorphism on oxidative and nitrative stress and mitochondrial respiration in the placenta and their relationship to epigenetic regulation of placental function and fetal programming. I have held leadership positions in the Perinatal research Society, International Federation of Placenta Associations and Society for Gynecologic Investigation (now SRI). In addition I am very actively involved in career development activities both at my own institution and at the national level. I have been privileged to direct several NIH-funded training grants including a MD/PhD program and a Women’s Reproductive Health Research training program in addition to serving on RSDP, AAOGF and SMFM scholar selection committees.

What has been the most pivotal moment in your career?

Perhaps the most pivotal moment of my career was moving to the US in 1987 and joining the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine where I joined a large group of perinatal researchers who provided incredible opportunities for interaction and mentorship to me.

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

My one piece of advice to a trainee would be to remember the advice of a revered member of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Dr Larry Longo, and “persevere”.