What are the key points of your research synopsis?The idea for my PhD research project came from the relatively recent discovery that the fallopian tube may be the organ of origin for high-grade serous ovarian cancers. As such, our group was interested to see if cancers of the lower female reproductive tract (i.e. endometrium and cervix) had an impact on the morphology and function of the fallopian tube. The fallopian tube is a fascinating organ that is subject to morphological and functional changes throughout a person’s life. It has specialised cells called ciliated and secretory cells that capture and transport egg cells and provide the nourishment that is required for fertilisation and early-embryo development, respectively. In ovarian cancer, the fallopian tube secretory cells act as precursor lesions called “serous intraepithelial carcinoma” or STICs. These STICS have the potential to migrate to the ovary and become malignant. Cervical cancers tend to affect reproductive age women as the disease is overwhelmingly caused by chronic infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV). If the cancer is diagnosed early on, oncologists will aim to preserve their patient’s fertility by opting for “fertility-preserving surgery¨. For this reason, we were interested to see if the ability of the fallopian tube to transport egg cells to the uterus (by the beating of ciliated cells) was impacted in these patients. Through novel state-of-art imaging technologies, we found that ciliated cell beating was significantly reduced in patients with cervical cancer. We also discovered that cervical cancer patients exhibited increased immune cell activity, suggesting that the fallopian tube was mounting an immune response to the cancer. In our endometrial cancer cohort, we found increased secretion of glycoproteins and glycosaminoglycans which would create the ideal environment for metastatic spread. Interestingly, we found significant alterations in patients with benign disease (such as ovarian cysts and benign uterine myoma) and noted that behavioural factors such as smoking and body mass index (BMI) also induced changes in the fallopian tube at the functional and molecular level.
One of the best parts of my PhD experience was getting to work and collaborate with fellow students and other research groups. I was incredibly lucky to be surrounded by passionate, creative and driven people who never hesitated to reach out a hand when I was feeling overwhelmed or stressed. I was happy to be able to pass on that experience to younger students and hope that they will do the same for others after them. Engaging with student activist groups such as the post-graduate workers organisation (PWO) in their fight for PhD work to be recognised for the value it brings to universities was a real joy too. I was also lucky enough to travel to Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and the University of Galway to conduct scanning and transmission electron microscopy.
PhD´s can be simultaneously incredibly rewarding and overwhelming. Having a profound interest in your chosen subject is essential as it can help drive you in times of stress or uncertainty. Don´t be afraid to ask for help and don´t give up when things go wrong. Lean on your friends and family and try not to take too much of your work home with you. Be prepared for the third-year slump! That moment when you ask, “what have I actually done for the last few years?!” Fear not, everyone goes through it. You will make it!
I loved having the opportunity to work as an anatomy demonstrator at UCDs School of Medicine. The anatomy labs are so well equipped and it made teaching there one of the biggest highlights of my 4 years. Being apart of the UCD’s graduate research association of medicine (GRAM) was another big highlight and if you are considering pursuing a PhD at UCD I cannot recommend joining more. They organise social events, talks and meet ups where you can vent your frustrations, celebrate your wins and lean on other students for advice be it academic or personal.
Abstract - 2024 - Reproduction in Domestic Animals - Wiley Online Library