Academic clinical fellowships in the Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine - Obstetrics and Gynaecology

The academic unit is headed by Professor Allan Pacey, whilst clinical academic training in Obstetrics and gynaecology is headed by Professor Dilly Anumba. The clinical staff (honorary academic staff) comprises 30 consultants with general and special interests that cover all aspects of Obstetrics and gynaecology. The four subspecialty areas in Obstetrics and gynaecology have very successful training programmes - reproductive medicine and surgery (Training Programme Supervisor, TPS Mr Bolarinde Ola), gynaecological oncology (TPS Professor John Tidy), urogynaecology (TPS Mr Stephen Radley) and maternal and fetal medicine (TPS Professor Dilly Anumba).

Research within the academic unit includes investigation of the cross-talk between gametes and embryos, and the innate immune system within the female reproductive tract (Prof Fazeli) the biology of human spermatozoa, semen quality and male fertility (Prof Pacey), the regulation of mammalian follicle development in the ovary (Dr Fenwick, Lecturer), ovarian development and clinical response, polycystic ovary syndrome and hirsutism (Mr H Lashen, Senior Clinical Lecturer), gene regulation by the nuclear factor kappaB family of transcription factors, and their effect on myometrial function during pregnancy and labour (Dr N Chapman, Lecturer), fetomaternal physiology of human pregnancy and birth, and the innate immune and inflammatory mechanisms that underpin disorders of parturition such as premature birth and preeclampsia (Professor D Anumba), and Fetal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging (Dr E Whitby, Senior Lecturer in Radiology). The Directorate of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Neonatology of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals also hosts several clinical research programmes and numerous national and international clinical trials.

Additional areas of research include investigation of quality of life measures in women’s health and disorders, the employment of spectroscopic techniques to screen for cervical cancer, and adaptations of similar technologies to screen for risk of premature birth, the use of the electronic patient assessment questionnaire (ePAQ) in the care of gynaecological disorders, and the management of sexual dysfunction associated with stress urinary incontinence. Major collaborations exist between the unit and other research groupings within the the University of Sheffield and further afield. The unit and clinical directorate have strong links with the INSIGNEO Institute for in silico medicine, ScHARR, and Department of Clinical Engineering of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital.

The publication and funding track record of the department exceeds several million pounds and > 200 publications over the last 10 years, majority of which were original primary research articles. The academic unit has a track record of graduating postgraduate research students and currently hosts more than 20 PhD studentships, postdoctoral research scientists and numerous clinical research fellows. The unit hosts the new and popular MSc Course in Reproductive and Developmental Medicine.

Academic lead

Professor Dilly OC Anumba | d.o.c.anumba@sheffield.ac.uk