Find out more about the research team. The Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team encompasses a diverse group of academic researchers, medics, midwives and laboratory staff. The team works together within NHS Lothian and the University of Edinburgh to improve pregnancy outcomes and experiences through research.We work collaboratively with many other academic and clinical teams and organisations, with the same shared interest in promoting research in pregnancy. HTML Centre for Cardiovascular Science HTML Image Professor Rebecca ReynoldsProfessor of Metabolic Medicine, University of Edinburgh; Honorary Consultant Physician, NHS LothianRebecca Reynolds studied medicine at Oxford and was awarded a PhD by the University of Edinburgh in 2002. Her main research interest is in the early life origins of health. Rebecca’s clinical work includes general diabetes and endocrinology and specialist clinics in reproductive endocrinology and pregnancy. She set up the NHS Lothian Antenatal Metabolic Clinic in 2008 with obstetric colleagues. Rebecca is clinical director of the University of Edinburgh undergraduate endocrinology and diabetes module, and personal tutor for undergraduate medical students. Research page HTML Image Shona LowSenior Research MidwifeShona is a research midwife at the University of Edinburgh. Shona initially worked in clinical research prior to pursuing a career in midwifery graduating from the University of the West of Scotland before working in Greater Glasgow & Clyde. She is currently the lead midwife for the Edinburgh Reproductive Tissue Biobank (ERTBB). HTML Image Em ThompsonResearch MidwifeEm is a research midwife at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Before working in research she was both a labour ward and community midwife. She graduated from Oxford Brookes University, with her MSc (Hons) dissertation research focusing on parental mode of birth decision-making surrounding term breech birth. HTML Image Indira KempResearch MidwifeIndira is a research midwife at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Prior to joining the research team, Indira worked in community, and before that was a midwife on labour ward, antenatal and postnatal wards in the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. She is passionate about improving maternity care. HTML Image Sarah DonaldsonResearch MidwifeSarah is a research midwife at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Prior to this, she was a continuity of care midwife in Fife. She has also worked in the Midwife Led Unit, Observation and Antenatal and Postnatal Wards at the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. HTML Image Rosie JenksResearch MidwifeRosie is a Research Midwife at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. Prior to this role she worked briefly on the labour ward at the same hospital, she recently moved to Edinburgh from London where she worked in a team specialising in gestational diabetes. HTML Image Wendy MakResearch PractitionerWendy works to recruit to, and assist with the running of, research studies within the wider Edinburgh Pregnancy Research Team. Prior to this role, she worked as a clinical nurse in Hong Kong. HTML Image Jayne BradySenior BioBank TechnicianJayne is the senior technician for the Edinburgh Reproductive Tissue BioBank (ERTBB), for which she has overall responsibility for day-to-day management. Previously, she worked as a biomedical scientist in the Biochemistry Department within the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh. She manages the everyday logistics of the BioBank, from approving applications to use tissue samples for research, to the collection, storage and distribution of the samples - while maintaining all relevant documentation and data. She is also the lead technician on the Born in Scotland project. HTML Image Dr Marisa MagennisProject ManagerMarisa is a research coordinator of academic projects and the project manager for the Born in Scotland and Data Trusts studies. Marisa’s research background is in biological sciences, with a BSc (Hons) and PhD in Experimental Bacterial Evolution from the University of Edinburgh, and an MRes from the University of St Andrews. Her role involves cross-disciplinary collaborations and she has experience in research funding and in developing and delivering public engagement activities. HTML Image Carlos Sánchez SorianoResearch FellowCarlos is a postdoctoral researcher focusing on data science working with the MIREDA Partnership to interrogate health records and clinical data collected through the Born in Scotland project and harmonise pregnancy and neonatal information with other UK birth cohorts. Previously, he investigated the link between early life outcomes and adult cardiometabolic disease using the Walker cohort from Dundee, as part of his PhD project. HTML Usher Institute HTML Image Professor Sarah StockPersonal Chair of Maternal and Fetal Health; Consultant Obstetrician, NHS Lothian; Maternal and Fetal Medicine Subspecialist, Royal Infirmary EdinburghSarah is a consultant obstetrician and subspecialist in maternal and fetal medicine at the Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh. The focus of her research and clinical work is to improve care for women and babies at risk of being born too small or too soon. An aim is to improve detection and treatment of problems that cause preterm birth or growth restriction and stillbirth, and develop strategies that improve health of babies and children. She went to Manchester University Medical School, and has a PhD from the University of Edinburgh. Her specialist and subspecialist clinical training was undertaken in Edinburgh, with periods in Glasgow, London and Australia.Research page HTML Dr Rosie Townsend Image SCREDS Clinical Lecturer; Obstetric Consultant, NHS LothianRosie qualified from Edinburgh in 2009 and undertook the majority of her specialist training in obstetrics and gynaecology in London, during which time she completed her MD at St George's University in London. She has also worked in Malawi, the Philippines and Uganda and currently serves as Chair of the RCOG Global Health Trainees Committee. Her current research interests include environmental exposures and pregnancy health, stillbirth and preterm birth prediction and reducing inequity in global women's health. This article was published on 2024-03-19
