Meet the Edinburgh Fertility Preservation researchers and clinicians Clinical team Professor Rod Mitchell - Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist & Professor of Developmental Endocrinology Email: Rod.Mitchell@ed.ac.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh & Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, EdinburghI have been the clinical lead for fertility preservation in prepubertal boys with cancer since 2014. The service provides testicular tissue cryopreservation to patients receiving sterilising therapies, such as chemotherapy. The team also has ethics approval for a clinical trial to perform re-transplantation of cryopreserved testicular tissue to restore fertility in boys whose cancer treatment has made them infertile. My research team also conducts laboratory research to develop strategies to protect the testis from cancer treatment. Professor Richard Anderson - Elsie Inglis Professor of Clinical Reproductive Science Email: Richard.Anderson@ed.ac.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh.I have been involved in female fertility preservation since the initial development of ovarian tissue cryopreservation with David Baird in the mid 1990s, when our initial criteria for offering this approach were developed. This continues to be a key issue in the field, requiring careful development in the light of expanding indications we have explored, such as in Turner syndrome. We have also developed the value of meaning AMH in assessing ovarian toxicity, and demonstrated its value in clinical trials in lymphoma and breast cancer. Dr Mark Brougham - Consultant Paediatric Oncologist Affiliation(s): Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, EdinburghProviding primarily clinical advice - both in terms of patient referrals for consideration of fertility preservation (from Lothian but also elsewhere) and clinical input into research studies and audits.I have had a longstanding interest in fertility issues after childhood cancer treatment and completed an MD in this area in 2007. I am actively involved in the programme, primarily providing clinical input and advice. This involves discussions around patient referrals, both from South East Scotland and elsewhere, and providing clinical input into research studies, audits and other projects within the programme. My main area of interest is fertility preservation for prepubertal boys receiving gonadotoxic treatment. Dr Angela Jesudason Dr Kathleen Duffin - SCREDS Clinical Lecturer & Paediatric Oncology GRID Trainee Email: kathleen.duffin@ed.ac.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh & Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, EdinburghI work within the paediatric haematology and oncology team, where I am involved in the clinical side of fertility preservation in childhood cancer patients. My research interests include the investigating the effects of chemotherapy on the pre-pubertal testis. Dr Tarini Chetty Mr Philip Hammond - Consultant Paediatric Surgeon Email: philip.hammond@nhs.scot Affiliation(s): Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, EdinburghBuilding on the insights of previous colleagues, I have been involved in optimising the practical arrangements for the harvesting of ovarian and testicular tissue for cryopreservation for those children who may benefit from fertility preservation in future. This involves co-ordinating with other treatments of their primary condition as well as working with colleagues to define standard operating procedures for improving tissue quality as well as helping to plan for reimplantation of this tissue when these children are older. Dr Maya Chetty - Consultant in Reproductive Medicine Email: maya.chetty@nhs.scotAffiliation(s): Edinburgh Fertility Centre and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian.Clinical advisor in reproductive medicine and assisted conception. Dr Cheryl Dunlop - Consultant Gynaecologist Email: Cheryl.Dunlop@nhs.scotAffiliation(s): Edinburgh Fertility Centre and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh.I have been involved in ovarian tissue cryopreservation for 10 years, including being part of the team that performed the first ovarian tissue reimplantation in the UK, and have completed a PhD in fertility preservation. My role in EFP is to provide clinical advice in reproductive medicine and assisted conception. Dr Sharon Zahra - Clinical Lead Affiliation(s): Tissues and Cells, Scottish National Blood Transfusion ServiceWe work in collaboration with other healthcare professionals to support the organ and tissue donation programme in Scotland and the wider UK to ensure we are able to support the clinical demand. Dr Jamie Campbell - Consultant in Clinical Genetics NHS Lothian, South East Scotland Clinical Genetics Service, Western General Hospital.Tel: 01315371116Email: Jamie.Campbell2@nhs.scot My role is to offer advice on appropriate genetic testing and the interpretation of these genetic test results for appropriate cases. Michaela Rodger - Clinical Trial Co-ordinator Email: michaela.rodger@ed.ac.uk, michaela.rodger2@nhslothian.scot.nhs.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh.As part of the Mitchell Group, my role is to co-ordinate the Testicular Tissue Cryopreservation and Transplantation Programme. This research programme is currently active in Scottish research sites, and it offers boys the opportunity to have testicular tissue cryopreserved in advance of receiving highly gonadotoxic treatments for cancer and other diseases, which can render them infertile. Audrey Kuchnowski - Clinical Trial Manager & Research Nurse Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of Edinburgh.Emails: audrey.kuchnowski@ed.ac.uk, audrey.kuchnowski@nhs.scot, protect@ed.ac.uk My role is to facilitate the smooth implementation and management of fertility related research studies in Professor Anderson’s portfolio. Research Team Professor Evelyn Telfer - Personal Chair in Reproductive Biology Email: Evelyn.Telfer@ed.ac.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of EdinburghSpecialising in ovarian development. Dr Roseanne Rosario - Senior Lecturer in Reproductive Biology Email: roseanne.rosario@ed.ac.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Reproductive Health, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, University of EdinburghRoseanne leads a basic science laboratory that focuses on understanding the finite nature of female fertility, through exploring establishment of the ovarian reserve and mechanisms underlying follicle loss, especially after chemotherapy treatment. As part of this work, her team is particularly interested in advancing strategies that can be used to protect primordial follicles from chemotherapy damage and thus preserve lifelong female reproductive function. Professor Norah Spears - Professor of Reproductive Physiology Email: norah.spears@ed.ac.ukAffiliation(s): Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of EdinburghSpecialising in examining the effects of chemotherapy drugs on gonadal development Professor Hamish Wallace - Paediatric Oncologist Affiliation(s): Royal Hospital for Sick Kids, EdinburghSpecialising in assessing the effects of cancer treatment on children's fertility Dr Tom Kelsey - Professor of Health Data Science Affiliation(s): School of Computer Science, University of St AndrewsI have published several important models with close relevance to EFP. Examples include the calculation of the damage done to the ovarian reserve by radiotherapy, and normative models for ovarian volume, ovarian reserve, and sex steroids such as testosterone, AMH and inhibin-B. I performed the analysis for studies linking cancer survival to family size and fertile lifespan, and to validate the Edinburgh criteria for selection towards fertility protection. I am currently the lead analysts for the large-scale PROTECT study collecting prospective data from children and young adults with cancer. This article was published on 2025-04-22
