Translational ovarian physiology and pathophysiology
Research is focused on ovarian tissue cryopreservation and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
Mr Paul Hardiman
Research Group Lead
Paul Hardiman is Associate Professor in the Institute of Women’s Health, Director of the Ovarian Tissue Cryopreservation Service and honorary Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Royal Free Hospital London, honorary Consultant in the Fertility clinic at the Whittington Hospital and joint founder of the UK Oncofertility Consortium and the Interdisciplinary Centre for Reproductive and Experimental Cryobiology (ICREC). He trained in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in Newcastle and at St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London. His initial research was in the vascular effects of menopausal therapies under the supervision of Jean Ginsburg at the Royal Free Hospital, School of Medicine and spent a one year as postdoctoral fellow at University of Sydney/ Royal North Shore Hospital, Australia and Toronto University/ Mount Sinai Hospital.
Research interests
Ovarian tissue cryopreservation and transplantation.
The focus of this research is understand the fundamental changes which occur during gonadal tissue cryopreservation, using state of the art ultrastructural imaging and molecular technologies. The results will be rapidly translatable to clinical practice so that future generations diagnosed with cancer can enjoy the fundamental human right to found a family.
Polycystic ovary syndrome.
The major focus of ongoing studies is the understanding of the effects on the development and wellbeing of children born to mothers with PCOS. Key areas of investigation include vascular function and structure, neurodevelopment and epigenetic programming in the offspring.
Collaborators
- University College London: Professors Barry Fuller (Division of Surgery & Interventional Sciences), Michelle de Haan (Developmental Neurosciences), Alastair Sutcliffe (Institute for Child Health).
- Great Ormond Street Hospital, London: Vesna Pavasovic, Consultant in Malignant Paediatric Haematology and Lead for Fertility Preservation.
- Kings College London: Professor Roland Fleck (Centre for Ultrastructural Imaging).
- University of Copenhagen: Professor Klaus Andersen and Stine Kristensen (Human Reproductive Physiology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences).
- Karolinska Institute, Stockholm: Victoria Keros