Summary
Professor Kate Hardy’s current research focuses on ovarian physiology, specifically the regulation of early preantral follicle development. Professor Hardy leads an active research programme, coordinating a number of ongoing research projects in addition to supervising three PhD students, as well as BSc and MSc lab-based projects. In addition to her research interests, Professor Hardy is committed to education, teaching on a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, including the MSc in Reproductive and Developmental Biology, the BSc in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences, The BSc in Biomedical Science and The MBBS Graduate Entry Programme. Professor Hardy has published widely and has frequent invitations to speak at national and international meetings. She has been an Associate Editor of Human Reproduction Update and Business Secretary of the Society of Reproduction and Fertility.
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Mammalian ovarian physiology, specifically the regulation of early follicle development.
MAIN RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
To elucidate the signalling pathways involved in the regulation of activation of follicle growth.
To understand the cell biology of the events involved in the activation of follicle growth, including change in granulosa cell shape, onset of granulosa cell proliferation, and the initiation of oocyte growth.
To identify and investigate the nature of inter-follicle signals and their role in maintaining homeostasis in the ovary.
QUALIFICATIONS AND PERSONAL HISTORY
Professor of Reproductive Biology, 2009
Reader, 2001; Institute of Reproductive and Developmental Biology, Imperial College London
Senior Lecturer, 1999; Institute of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Imperial College London
Lecturer, 1994; Royal Postgraduate Medical School, London
PhD, 1991; Royal Postgraduate Medical School, University of London
BA Natural Sciences (Biological), University of Cambridge
RECENT INVITED LECTURES
December 2013, 'Folliculogenesis: from prenatal to the menopausal life phase'. ESHRE Campus Workshop on Primary Ovarian Insufficiency – POI: Update and Guideline presentation, Utrecht, Holland.
November 2013, 'Activation of dormant follicles'. The International Society of Fertility Preservation, Valencia, Spain.
July 2013, 'Regulation of the onset of follicle growth'. Society for the Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting, Montreal, Canada
February 2013, 'Control of Follicle Development'. The International Conference on Preservation of Fertility for Cancer Patients, Hong Kong
July 2012, 'Bone morphogenetic protein antagonists and preantral follicle development in the ovary'. Society for Reproduction and Fertility, Edinburgh
September 2011, 'Initiation of follicle growth in the ovary - identification of putative regulators'. Reproductive Function and Dysfunction, XVth International Conference on Development and Function of Reproductive Organs, Edinburgh
June 2010, 'Spatial Modulation of initiation of follicle growth in the ovary' Annual Physiological Society Meeting, Manchester UK
TEACHING
TEACHING AWARDS
Rector’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, 2008
TEACHING
Deputy Course Organizer, MSc in Reproductive and Developmental Biology
Module leader and lecturer, MSc in Reproductive and Developmental Biology
Lecturer, BSc in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences (4th year MBBS science year)
Lecturer, Reproductive Sciences Module, Graduate Entry Programme MBBS
PROJECT SUPERVISION
PhD
BSc in Reproductive and Developmental Sciences
MSc projects (MSC in Reproductive and Developmental Biology)
MRes Projects (MRes Cancer Biology)
TEACHING COMMITTEES
Representative for Surgery and Cancer on the Master's Quality Committee, Medicine, Life Sciences & School of Professional Development, Imperial College London
Chair of the Surgery and Cancer Postgraduate Education (Taught Courses) Subcommittee
Member of the Surgery and Cancer Education Board
Member of Surgery and Cancer Postgraduate Education Committee
Member of MSc in Reproductive and Developmental Biology Organizing Committee
MEMBERSHIP OF PROFESSIONAL BODIES
LEARNED SOCIETIES
Society for Endocrinology
Society for Reproduction and Fertility
British Society for Developmental Biology
British Society for Cell Biology
EDITORSHIPS
2005 - 2009 Associate Editor of Human Reproduction Update
COMMITTEES
2007 on Member of the Organizing Committee of the Ovarian Workshop (USA)
1998 - 2002 Business Secretary, Society for the Study of Fertility (now the Society for Reproduction and Fertility) UK.
REVIEWER
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, PLOS ONE, Development, Developmental Biology, Human Molecular Genetics, Human Reproduction Update, Human Reproduction, Molecular Human Reproduction, Fertility and Sterility, Biology of Reproduction, Reproduction, Cell and Tissue Research, Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, Molecular and Cellular EndocrinologyReproduction, Fertility and Development
Selected Publications
Journal Articles
Comim FV, Hardy K, Franks S, 2013, Adiponectin and Its Receptors in the Ovary: Further Evidence for a Link between Obesity and Hyperandrogenism in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, PLOS One, Vol:8, ISSN:1932-6203
Comim FV, Teerds K, Hardy K, et al., 2013, Increased protein expression of LHCG receptor and 17α-hydroxylase/17-20-lyase in human polycystic ovaries, Human Reproduction, Vol:28, ISSN:0268-1161, Pages:3086-3092
Fenwick MA, Mora JM, Mansour YT, et al., 2013, Investigations of TGF-β Signaling in Preantral Follicles of Female Mice Reveal Differential Roles for Bone Morphogenetic Protein 15, Endocrinology, Vol:154, ISSN:0013-7227, Pages:3423-3436
Mora JM, Fenwick MA, Castle L, et al., 2012, Characterization and Significance of Adhesion and Junction-Related Proteins in Mouse Ovarian Follicles, Biology of Reproduction, Vol:86, ISSN:0006-3363
Fenwick MA, Mansour YT, Franks S, et al., 2011, Identification and Regulation of Bone Morphogenetic Protein Antagonists Associated with Preantral Follicle Development in the Ovary, Endocrinology, Vol:152, ISSN:0013-7227, Pages:3515-3526
Da Silva-Buttkus P, Marcelli G, Franks S, et al., 2009, Inferring biological mechanisms from spatial analysis: Prediction of a local inhibitor in the ovary, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, Vol:106, ISSN:0027-8424, Pages:456-461
Da Silva-Buttkus P, Jayasooriya GS, Mora JM, et al., 2008, Effect of cell shape and packing density on granulosa cell proliferation and formation of multiple layers during early follicle development in the ovary, Journal of Cell Science, Vol:121, ISSN:0021-9533, Pages:3890-3900
Stubbs SA, Stark J, Dilworth SM, et al., 2007, Abnormal preantral folliculogenesis in polycystic ovaries is associated with increased granulosa cell division, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol:92, ISSN:0021-972X, Pages:4418-4426
Stubbs SA, Hardy K, Da Silva-Buttkus P, et al., 2005, Anti-Mullerian hormone protein expression is reduced during the initial stages of follicle development in human polycystic ovaries, Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, Vol:90, ISSN:0021-972X, Pages:5536-5543