User talk:JoyceH85

Joyce Harper
Joyce Harper is a leader in the field of IVF and genetics (www.joyceharper.com). She is a Reader in Human Genetics and Embryology at University College London where she is Faculty Graduate Tutor, Chair of the School of Life and Medical Sciences Education Domain, Education Lead for the Institute for Women’s Health and Director of two Masters Programmes. She has many roles in ESHRE, HFEA and the British Fertility Society. In 2014, with Alpesh Doshi and Sioban SenGupta, Joyce set up the company Embryology and PGD Academy which runs training courses in all aspects of laboratory IVF and preimplantation genetic diagnosis.

Joyce read Biochemistry at Queen Elizabeth College from 1981-1984 and obtained a 2/1. She them joined the pharmacology department at Kings College London where she studied a PhD under the supervision of Professor John Littleton looking at the effects of alcohol on catecholamine release from adrenal chromafin cells. Joyce Harper started working in IVF in 1987, initially spending a short time at the Hallam Medical Centre and then moving onto work with Professor Ian Craft at the London Fertility Centre. She designed new IVF labs at Cozens House, 112A Harley Street and in Dubai.

In 1992 she joined the PGD team at the Hammersmith Hospital performing clinical biopsies and FISH diagnosis as well as undertaking research into chromosome abnormalities of human embryos. In 1993 she started a joint project with the Hammersmith Hospital and University College London. In 1997 she designed (with Professor Joy Delhanty and Professor Charles Rodeck) the first of her MSc programmes at UCL that she directs (Prenatal Genetics and Fetal Medicine) and in 2002 she developed a second MSc programme (Reproductive Science and Womens’ Health). JoyceH85 (talk) 21:26, 29 April 2014 (UTC)

UCL EGA Institute for Women’s Health
Founded in 2004, the UCL Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health (IfWH) is an academic department of the Faculty of Population Health Sciences of University College London (UCL) and is located in London, United Kingdom. The Institute brings together individuals with expertise across the whole spectrum of health of women and their babies – from laboratory science and clinical practice to social and behavioural sciences – with the objective of making a difference to the health of women and their babies, both in the UK and internationally, through pioneering research, education programmes and clinical initiatives. Women’s health can be addressed in its broadest sense, from childhood to puberty, motherhood to menopause, maturity to old age, taking into account the social, psychological, economic, ethical and legal dimensions of health care, and working with models of health, illness and health care that move beyond the traditional.

History

Professor Ian Jacobs was the founding Director of IfWH from 2004- 2009

The current director IfWH Director of the Institute for Women’s Health is Professor Peter Brocklehurst.

Our Mission To bring together the expertise of clinicians and researchers from a diverse range of disciplines so that they can deliver excellence and innovation in research, clinical practice, education and training in order to make a real and sustainable difference to women's health locally, nationally and worldwide

Objectives The objective of the Institute is to make a difference to the health of women in the UK and internationally by creation of a leading centre of excellence for research, clinical care, education and training. From childhood to puberty, motherhood to menopause, maturity to old age, the lives of women around the world are a fascinating and complex journey filled with great joys and also suffering. From developmental problems to menstrual abnormalities, infertility to hormone deficiencies, premature labour to neonatal death, bladder problems to cancer, there are now amazing opportunities to make this journey better. The Institute team are dedicated to making things better. We believe that medicine must be holistic and combine the health of the body with the health of the mind. We aim to improve knowledge, practice and education in all aspects of women’s health.

Research Themes

The Institute for Women’s Health is made up of five themes: Reproductive Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine, Women’s Cancer, Neonatology and Global Health.

Reproductive Health The theme lead is Professor Judith Stephenson. The Research Department of Reproductive Health hosts a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and scientists with expertise in a wide range of disorders affecting women’s reproductive health. The research portfolio spans molecular investigation into the health of oocytes (eggs) and embryos, through clinical research of common gynecological conditions, such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome, and rare disorders of sexual development, to public health issues such as pre-conception health and control of sexually transmitted infections. There are five research groups: Gynaecological Development and Function (Sarah Creighton), Sexual and Reproductive Health (Judith Stephenson), Reproductive Health and Chronic Disease (Ratna Chatterjee), Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (Paul Hardiman) and Preimplantation Genetics and Embryology (Joyce Harper and Sioban SenGupta).

Maternal and Fetal Medicine

The theme lead is Professor Donald Peebles. Maternal and Fetal Medicine research has a long established track record at UCL and includes the work of Professor Charles Rodeck, one of the pioneers of fetal medicine. Current research activity is centered around 7 groups that encompass many of the major causes of UK maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity: Perinatal Neuroscience (Leads- Professor G. Raivich, Dr Mariya Hristova), Preterm birth (Lead - Prof D Peebles) Prenatal Gene and Cellular Therapy (Dr A David), Maternal Medicine (Dr D Williams), Gene Transfer Technology Group (Dr S Waddington), Cellular programming and prenatal therapy (Dr Pascale Guillot) and Perinatal trials (Prof P Brocklehurst). Together, these groups represent a significant collaboration of scientists and clinicians with a unifying aim to improve outcomes for pregnant women and their babies through improved diagnosis and treatment. Womens Cancer The theme lead is Professor Martin Widschwendter. The Department of Women’s Cancer has an exceptionally talented group of academics and clinicians dedicated to the Department’s mission which is to conduct multidisciplinary research into women specific cancers: to create clinical interventions, and to extend disease knowledge so that fewer women receive a cancer diagnosis, and treatment and quality of life are improved for those who do. To achieve this, the department has developed an integrated research pathway including all women-specific cancers for risk stratification, prevention, early detection and diagnosis, which incorporates clinical, epidemiological, genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, symptom and imaging data, and apply them to populations. We are the UK’s leading centre for research into women’s cancer. UCLH is a tertiary referral centre for women with gynaecological cancers. The department is unique in that its strengths lie in four internationally renowned research groups; Gynaecological Cancer Research Centre (Usha Menon), Cancer Proteomics (John Timms), Patient Care Research (Anne Lanceley) and the Women’s Cancer Translational Research Group (Martin Widschwendter). Each of these groups bring their own distinctive approach and perspective to the risk, detection, prevention and treatment of women’s cancers.”

Neonatology

Global Health Although the work of the Institute for Women’s health may appear to fall into four specific divisions, there is an underpinning, cross-cutting strategy to strengthen and further develop programmes of research and education that are of benefit to health care professionals and the women, mothers and new-borns they care for around the globe. Our strength in leading cutting edge clinical research and our expertise in study methodology, running multi-country large scale trials and epidemiological and public health methodologies combine to provide us with a unique set of skills to enable us to contribute further to improving the lives of women, mothers and babies whoever they are and wherever they live in the world. Professor Gwyneth Lewis OBE FRCOG FACO is leading this programme of work.

Education The Institute for Women's Health has a strong programme of teaching at both undergraduate and graduate level and is a recognized centre for postgraduate clinical training. Dr Joyce Harper is Education lead, Faculty Graduate Tutor (taught), Institute Graduate Tutor (taught), Chair of the SLMS Education Domain, Programme Director for two Masters programmes. Dr Sioban SenGupta is Institute Graduate Tutor (research). Melissa Whitten is Clinical Education Lead.

Athena SWAN Lead by Professor Nikki Robertson, the IfWH was awarded bronze Athena Swan status in 2013. The Athena Scientific Women’s Academic Network (Athena SWAN) Charter recognises commitment to advancing women's careers in science, technology, engineering, math’s and medicine (STEMM) employment in higher education. The Athena SWAN Charter is a follow up from the original Athena Project which is a UK-wide initiative and was launched in 1999. The current Charter was launched in June 2005. Any higher education institution that is committed to the advancement and promotion of the careers of women in STEMM in higher education and research can apply for membership. The beliefs underpinning the Charter are: The advancement of science, technology, engineering, math’s and medicine is fundamental to quality of life across the globe, It is vitally important that women are adequately represented in what has traditionally been, and is still, a male-dominated area. Science cannot reach its full potential unless it can benefit from the talents of the whole population, and until women and men can benefit equally from the opportunities it affords.