Prof Wingfield’s study with Trinity College Dublin on uterine natural killer cells in endometriosis has been selected for a RAMI Research Award in the Biomedical Science category! See below for information on this publication.
This category received a large number of submissions, so this is a significant achievement.
The RAMI Research Awards 2017 will be held on Wed 29th November, and winners will receive a RAMI bronze medal and educational bursary.
Congratulations Prof Wingfield!!
Natural Killer Cells and Infertility
The role of natural killer (NK) immune cells in infertility is the subject of much controversy in reproductive medicine. It is important to note that circulating blood NK cells and NK cells found in the uterus have very different profiles and functions. Scientific studies in animals indicate that NK cells are in fact essential for pregnancy and development of the placental blood supply.
A recent collaborative study between Merrion Fertility Clinic and Trinity College Dublin found more immature uNK cells known as progenitors in endometrial tissue from women with endometriosis as compared to healthy patients, suggesting that uNK development is altered in the endometriotic uterus. Further analysis of these endometrial tissue samples revealed reduced levels of a growth factor called SCF in women with endometriosis, which may underlie the impaired maturation of uNK cells.
To read more about this research study, please follow the link below:
