Caroline Gargett receives academic promotion to Professor

Renowned stem cell scientist Caroline Gargett has received an academic promotion to Professor from Monash University.

Prof Gargett is an NHMRC Senior Research Fellow and heads the Endometrial Stem Cell Biology laboratory in The Ritchie Centre at Hudson Institute.

Prof Gargett says she is honoured to receive a promotion for her work which investigates underlying causes and solutions for ‘silent’ women’s health conditions, including pelvic organ prolapse and endometriosis.

“This promotion reflects my group’s contributions to our research efforts and they should be applauded as well. Research is very much a team effort,” she said.

After obtaining her PhD in 1997, in 2004 A/Prof Gargett made a world-renowned discovery of two types of stem/progenitor cells in human endometrium, the highly regenerative lining of the uterus. Soon after, she established the Endometrial Stem Cell Biology Group.

She says she chose to study the role of endometrial stem cells because she is fascinated by the regenerative capacity of the endometrium and how this might go awry in endometrial disorders.

Prof Gargett’s current research characterises these endometrial stem/ progenitor cells to examine their role in endometriosis, endometrial-related infertility, and endometrial cancer, as well as their therapeutic potential for pelvic organ prolapse.

She is working with collaborators at CSIRO Manufacturing, Monash Engineering, Flinders University and urogynaecologists from Monash Health on a novel stem cell based bioengineering application for pelvic organ prolapse. The research findings are promising for the development of potential therapeutics.

Prof Gargett has been the recipient of numerous national and international awards including the Society for Gynecological Investigation President’s Achievement Award (2013), the Endometriosis Foundation of America Honoree (2011) and was made a Fellow of the Society of Reproductive Biology last week.

Her research featured in the NHMRC’s 10 of the Best Research Projects in 2008. She has received widespread publicity in Australia and internationally and is frequently invited to give presentations at international conferences.

“I am proud and humbled to have become a Professor and I encourage young women scientists that they can make it too – just set your goals and work towards them. Everything is possible,” she said.