Lois Salamonsen

Research Group Head, Endometrial Remodelling Lab

Centre for Reproductive Health

Hudson Institute of Medical Research

Lois Salamonsen received her Bachelor of Science degree with 1^st class honours in Biochemistry from Otago University (New Zealand) and her PhD in Reproductive Biology from Monash University, Australia.

Her research focuses on human uterine/endometrial biology, specifically on mechanisms underlying endometrial remodelling including menstruation and endometrial repair and on endometrial receptivity for implantation. These findings aim to address a range of clinical problems, include infertility, abnormal uterine bleeding, endometriosis, and development of new non-hormonal contraceptives for women. A strong current focus on biomarker discovery will provide markers to guide IVF clinicians in decision-making and hence improve success rates.

Prof. Salamonsen has published over 260 peer-reviewed papers, review articles and book chapters in the fields of  endometrial remodeling and implantation and has >7000 citations. She has held positions as Associate Editor for the international journals ‘Biology of Reproduction’ and ‘Reproductive Sciences’, and served on the Editorial Boards of ‘Endocrinology’, ‘Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology’ and ‘Repropedia’, and been a member of the Faculty of 1000.

She is a Fellow and Life Member of the Society for Reproductive Biology, was President of that Society in 2004-6, and received their premier award, the Founder’s Lecture, in 2009. In 2012, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists awarded Prof Salamonsen an honorary Fellowship, making her one of only three scientists ever to receive this honour. In 2014, she was elected Fellow of the Society for the Study of Reproduction (USA), and in May 2017 she was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science (AAS).

Frontiers in Reproduction USA, honoured her commitment to training and mentoring young scientists with the Beacon Award (2014), acknowledging her “efforts in advancing young scholars’ research careers in the field of reproductive sciences research, and establishing her as a nationally valued source of illumination and guidance – a Beacon – in the development of research careers in the reproductive sciences”. A number of her previous students now head their own substantial research groups.

A strong funding mix has sustained work in the Salamonsen research group over the past 20 years, including funding from the NHMRC, National Institutes of Health (USA), World Health Organisation, Rockefeller Foundation, CONRAD/CICCR (USA), Schering AG, Merck-Serono Foundation (grants for Fertility Innovation) and Monash IVF as well as a number of philanthropic organisations.

Professor Salamonsen receives regular invitations to speak and to participate in specialist workshops, both nationally and internationally: in 2013-4 alone, she gave 23 invited presentations.

Prof Salamonsen’s current research involves studying the genes and proteins involved in endometrial remodelling during the menstrual cycle as well as during embryo implantation and early pregnancy using a variety of established human ex vivo and in vitro models together with genomic (eg microarrays, antisense technologies) and proteomic technologies.

She has formed strategic collaborations with specialist clinicians to translate the basic research findings into clinically relevant research, including identifying new diagnostics and treatments for disorders of the uterus (such as endometriosis, abnormal uterine bleeding, and endometrial infertility).

The group is currently funded by peer-reviewed grants, including Project grants from NHMRC, the Merck-Serono Foundation’s grants for Fertility Innovation, Monash IVF, and other philanthropic bodies.