Fiona Cousins

Areas of interest

Endometriosis Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) Stillbirth

Research group

Biography

Dr Fiona Cousins is a senior research scientist at the Hudson Institute of Medical research (Melbourne, Australia) whose current research focuses on understanding the pathology of endometriosis with the overall aim of discovering new therapeutic targets.

Dr Cousins worked in industry (biomanufacturing) before pursuing a PhD and postdoctoral work at the University of Edinburgh, where she specialised in the regulation of endometrial repair and regeneration during menstruation. Dr Cousins was recruited to the Hudson Institute in 2015, to investigate the role of endometrial stem cells in endometrial repair and their contributions to endometriosis pathogenesis. Dr Cousins currently leads an Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Ideas Grant (2023-2026) investigating the therapeutic potential of a novel type I interferon, IFNε, for endometriosis treatment. Her endometriosis research has been recognised by the World Endometriosis Society, awarded the David Healy Award for Best Scientific Presentation at the 14^th World Congress of Endometriosis (2021) and a highly commended prize for Best Presentation by a Young Investigator at the 15^th World Congress of Endometriosis (2023); she was also shortlisted in the Top 30 applicants in the L’Oreal UNESCO Women in Science Fellowship (2019).

She has a strong interest in women’s health and the promotion of women in science, and regularly contributes to community outreach activities, such as co-ordinating Hudson’s Young Women in Science mentoring programme, writing on endometriosis for The Conversation and appearing on 3RRR radio’s Einstein-A-Go-Go and 9News Today Show.

Einstein A Go-Go: An Endometriosis Special Broadcast

As part of Endometriosis Awareness Month, Dr Fiona Cousins joined a panel of experts on the long-running science program Einstein A-Go-Go on RRR radio, to discuss the challenges and successes of endometriosis research as well as the realities of living with this frequently misunderstood condition.
Click here or on the image to access 3RRR audio

VIEW VIDEO | On 9 NEWS, Dr Fiona Cousins discusses what Endo is and what her research is aiming to achieve.

Student opportunities

Publication highlights

Cousins FL*, Kirkwood PM*, Saunders PTK, Gibson DA (2016) Evidence for a dynamic role for mononuclear phagocytes in endometrial repair and remodelling. Scientific Reports: 6:36748 doi: 10.1038/srep36748. *Authors contributed equally to this work.
Simitsidellis I, Gibson DA, Cousins FL, Esnal-Zufiaurre A, Saunders PT (2016) A role for androgens in epithelial proliferation and formation of glands in the mouse uterus. Endocrinology: 157(5):2116-28.
Gibson DA, Simitsidellis I, Cousins FL, Critchley HOD, Saunders PTK (2016) Intracrine androgens enhance decidualization and modulate expression of human endometrial receptivity genes. Scientific Reports: 6:19970.
Cousins FL, Murray AA, Scanlon JP, Saunders PTK (2016) Hypoxyprobe reveals dynamic and spatial and temporal change in hypoxia in a mouse model of endometrial breakdown and repair. BMC Research Notes: 9:30.
Greaves E, Cousins FL, Murray A, Esnal-Zufiaurre A, Fassbender A, Horne AW, Saunders PTK (2014) A Novel Mouse Model of Endometriosis Mimics Human Phenotype and Reveals Insights into the Inflammatory Contribution of Shed Endometrium. American Journal of Pathology: 184: 1930-1939.
Cousins FL, Murray A, Esnal A, Gibson DA, Critchley HOD, Saunders PTK (2014) Evidence from a Mouse Model That Epithelial Cell Migration and Mesenchymal-Epithelial Transition Contribute to Rapid Restoration of Uterine Tissue Integrity During Menstruation. PLoS ONE 9(1): e86378. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0086378
Bellofiore N, Cousins FL, Temple-Smith P, Dickinson H, Evans J (2018) A missing piece: the spiny mouse and the puzzle of menstruating species. Journal of Molecular Endocrinology; 61: 25-41. doi: 10.1530/JME-17-0278.
Cousins FL, O D, Gargett CE (2018) Endometrial stem/progenitor cells and their role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Best Practice & Research Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology; special edition on Endometriosis; 50:27-38. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2018.01.011.
Gibson DA, Collins F, Esnal Zufiaurre A, Cousins FL, Saunders PTK (2018) The impact of 27-hydroxycholesterol on endometrial cancer proliferation. Endocrine Related Cancer; 25: 381-391. doi: 10.1530/ERC-17-0449.
Deane, JA, Ong YR, Cousins FL, Gargett CE (2018) Transplantation of whole bone marrow indicates that bone marrow very small embryonic-like cells do not contribute to endometrial lineages. Stem Cells, DOI:10.1002/stem.2784.
Bertoldo MJ, Andraweera PH, Bromfield EG, Cousins FL, Lindsay LA, Paiva P, Regan SL, Rose RD, Akison LK (2018). Recent and Emerging Reproductive Biology Research in Australia and New Zealand: Highlights from the Society of Reproductive Biology Annual Meeting, 2017. Reproduction, Fertility and Development; https://doi.org/10.1071/RD17445
Ong YR, Cousins FL, Yang X, Musafi AAA, Breault DT, Gargett CE, Deane JA (2018). Bone Marrow Stem Cells do Not Contribute to Endometrial Cell Lineages in Chimeric Mouse Models. Stem Cells; 36(1):91-102. doi: 10.1002/stem.2706.
Deane JA, Cousins FL, Gargett CE (2017) Endometrial organoids: in vitro models for endometrial research and personalised medicine. Biology of Reproduction; 97(6), iox139, https://doi.org/10.1093/biolre/iox139.
Cousins FL, Xiao L, Gargett CE (2017) Adult Stem Cells in the Pathogenesis and Treatment of Endometriosis. Journal of Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Disorders; 9(4): 223-231.
Nguyen HTP, Xiao L, Deane JA, Tan KS, Cousins FL, Masuda H, Sprung CN, A. R, Gargett CE (2017) N-cadherin identifies human endometrial epithelial progenitor cells by in vitro stem cell assays. Human Reproduction: 32 (11):2254-2268. DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dex289

Dr Fiona Cousins

Areas of interest

Research group

Biography

Einstein A Go-Go: An Endometriosis Special Broadcast

Student opportunities

Publication highlights

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Congratulations to our CASS Foundation grant awardees

Researchers awarded Ferring Innovation Grants

Dr Fiona Cousins

Areas of interest

Research group

Biography

Einstein A Go-Go: An Endometriosis Special Broadcast

Student opportunities

Publication highlights

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