iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

Today we want to send our huge congratulations to three of the CRR's PhD students, who have submitted their theses and are now preparing for their vivas: Sitira Williams, Andrew Coutts and Sally Butcher. #phd #research

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

Congratulations to CRR member Dr Sharon Anyiam on passing her PhD viva. She says "Becoming a mother led me to learn more about the inequalities facing Black women in maternity care. What began as preparation for my own birthing experience opened up a new area of research in reproductive justice".

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

CRR PhD student Kelly Da Silva has just published a co-authored article in The Lancet: ‘Psychological burden and decision making in medically assisted reproduction: implications for patient-centred care’. Available online, link provides 50 days' free access: authors.elsevier.com/c/1nObAArch4...

Decorative image showing screenshot of the journal article front page.

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Progress Educational Trust (PET) @pet-bionews.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

COMMENT: ‘“If we were a straight couple...”: Understanding LGBTQ+ family-building experiences in the UK’ Read more for FREE in BioNews ⬇️⬇️⬇️ www.progress.org.uk/if-we-were-a... #LGBTQ #Fertility #FertilityTreatment #NHSFundedFertilityTreatment #FamilyFormation #Reproduction #Children

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

CRR PhD student, mum and artist Alison Hofmeister is gathering honest voices about postpartum bodies, identity, and the 'bounce back' myth. 💬 Take the survey: forms.office.com/e/AJ5RUTezJh 🕒 10–30 minutes 🔒 100% anonymous and confidential 🌍 Open to anyone aged 18+ who’s given birth #BodyPositivity

Photo of art by Alison Exley - Labour Lines

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 26/05/2026

Kelly Da Silva, PhD student at the Centre for Reproduction Research, recently presented her work at BICA Counsellling Conference 2026: "Beyond treatment: Understanding childlessness, community and meaning making". Kelly has also just had a paper accepted for publication - more soon! #infertility

Kelly da Silva presents at BICA conference 2026

Angela Pericleous-Smith, Chair of BICA, opens the 2026 conference

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 18/05/2026

Today the CRR is hosting the BSA Human Reproduction Study Group annual conference, 'Fifty Years of ‘Becoming a Mother’. Keynotes Prof Charlotte Faircloth and Dr Rachel Arkell (UCL) discuss Anne Oakley's research on women and motherhood, and early findings from the follow up studies.

Parenting then and now - showing the growth of intensive parenting.

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 06/05/2026

In April, CRR PhD student Kelly Da Silva was in Oslo to present at the Fertility Europe Spring Meeting. Representing the Fertility Alliance, she joined peers from across Europe to share learning, strengthen connections, and champion people on a fertility journey. #FertilityEurope #FertilitySupport

The presenters at Fertility Europe, April 2026

A comment from an employee praising the work that Fertility Alliance did with her employer to support her through fertility treatment.

Kelly da Silva presents a case study "Embedding fertility in the workplace"

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

@drkatiecoveney.bsky.social is speaking at the CRR today on "Living and Dying with Rare Disease". This looks at six themes: diagnosis, care, challenges, reproductive decision -making, joy (very importantly), and support. A great discussion on how to theorise joy in families living with rare disease.

Dr Catherine Coveney presenting on "Living and Dying with Rare Disease".

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Join us for a CRR in-person seminar in Leicester on Weds 15 April 12-1:30 where @drkatiecoveney.bsky.social, Loughborough University, will speak about 'Living and Dying with Rare Disease' focusing on parents' lived experiences of caring for a child with Noonan Syndrome. Email crr@dmu.ac.uk to book.

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 27/03/2026

Yesterday we had one of our regular 'projects in progress' seminars, where researchers can showcase their ongoing work. This time we had Chris Elsey and team presenting on fertility and reproduction in women's sport, and Aishwarya Viswamitra presenting on her PhD on endometriosis in the workplace.

Aishwarya Viswamitra presenting on Endometriosis in the workplace

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PRECAS Project @precas-project.bsky.social · 21/02/2026

Final day of the ESHRE campus event, Carrier screening and infertility testing through the lens of GenEthics. Today Martin Delatycki is starting the final stream by talking about lessons learned from the government-funded Mackenzie's Mission pilot study for expanded carrier screening in Australia.

Martin Delatycki talking about the Mackenzie's Mission project on expanded carrier screening in Australia.

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PRECAS Project @precas-project.bsky.social · 20/02/2026

Day 2 of the ESHRE campus course on Carrier screening and infertility testing through the lens of GenEthics. @cathy-herbrand.bsky.social starts the day by presenting on the use of expanded carrier screening in egg and sperm donation in the UK, and the wide variety of approaches in UK clinics.

Cathy Herbrand presenting on the use of expanded carrier screening in UK gamete donation

It is great to see so many people at this ESHRE campus course.

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PRECAS Project @precas-project.bsky.social · 18/02/2026

This week we are in beautiful Ghent for an @eshre.bsky.social campus event on expanded carrier screening. @precas-project.bsky.social PI @cathy-herbrand.bsky.social and team member Eva van Steijvoort are presenting and chairing, along with presenters from all over Europe.

ESHRE campus course on Carrier screening and infertility testing through the lens of GenEthics, in Ghent, 19-21 February 2026.

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 17/12/2025

Prof Cathy Herbrand talks on the BBC World Service about the news that sperm from a donor with an undetectable gene mutation has been used to produce nearly 200 children, some with childhood cancer. Available for 25 days, listen from 26m 50s into the recording. www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/...

bbc.co.uk

Weekend - Thailand’s Prime Minister says military action will continue - BBC Sounds

Cambodia's defence ministry says Thai planes bombed hotel buildings

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 12/12/2025

Outgoing CRR Director Prof Nicky Hudson provides expert comment on the tragic news that sperm from a donor who unknowingly carried the gene variant for Li-Fraumeni syndrome was used to create almost 200 children. Some have since had childhood cancer. theconversation.com/one-sperm-do...

theconversation.com

One sperm donor fathered 200 children and passed on a deadly mutation – and it could easily happen again

Why better screening won’t be enough.

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Join us on Monday 19 Jan 12:30-14:00, at DMU Leicester, for an in-person Centre for Reproduction Research (CRR) seminar. Merissa Hickman, University of Leicester, will be speaking about 'Preconception Health: What Is the Problem Represented to Be?'. Email crr@dmu.ac.uk by 13 Jan to register.

Flyer with the following text: Preconception Health: What Is the Problem Represented to Be?
Merissa Hickman, PhD Candidate, University of Leicester

Centre for Reproduction Research Seminar Series; Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute, De Montfort University.

Monday 19th January 2026, 12:30-14:00, in person at De Montfort University, Leicester.

To register email crr@dmu.ac.uk (deadline to register 13 January).

And a photo of the speaker

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Progress Educational Trust (PET) @pet-bionews.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

Sara, Jackson, Heidi and Cathy will now join Sarah for the first Q&A of the day, taking questions from our lovely audience! #PETConf25

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Progress Educational Trust (PET) @pet-bionews.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

What do stakeholders in the UK really think of carrier screening? What are the benefits, and how useful is it? #PETConf25

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Progress Educational Trust (PET) @pet-bionews.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

The final speaker for this session is Professor Cathy Herbrand, Principal Investigator at PRECAS (precas.dmu.ac.uk) #PETconf25

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Kriss @krissf.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

A great discussion on expanded carrier screening at PET Conference, with @cathy-herbrand.bsky.social Sara Levene, Heidi Mertes and Jackson Kirkman Brown - sponsored by @precas-project.bsky.social Many thanks to everyone who came came along and asked a question #PET25

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 10/12/2025

The CRR PRECAS team are at the @pet-bionews.bsky.social annual conference ‘What does genomics mean for fertility treatment’ . Project lead Prof Cathy Herbrand is presenting study findings #PETconf25

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 16/10/2025

Join us on Monday 17 November 12-1:30 online for our first Centre for Reproduction Research (CRR) seminar of the year. @DrKrysWilkinson will be speaking about 'Complex fertility journeys and employment: Research insights and real-world impact'. Email crr@dmu.ac.uk by 12 Nov to register.

Centre for Reproduction Research Seminar Series; Social Sciences Research and Innovation Institute, De Montfort University. Monday 17th November - 12-1.30 GMT, online. Complex fertility journeys and employment: Research insights and real-world impact. Dr Krystal Wilkinson, Centre for Decent Work and Productivity, Manchester Metropolitan University.
To register email crr@dmu.ac.uk (deadline to register 12 November).

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Congratulations to @cathy-herbrand.bsky.social on this thought-provoking piece for The Conversation looking at the realities behind mitochondrial donation, following the news that eight babies have now been born using the technique in the UK. Well worth a read.

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 23/06/2025

Today we're delighted to welcome Rachel Arkell to talk about her research on the use of sodium valproate in pregnancy. Sodium valproate is a potentially lifesaving medication for epilepsy and bipolar disorder yet is associated with risk in pregnancy, raising queries about how it should be used.

A screen shot of Rachel Arkell's header slide on the use of sodium valproate in pregnancy and reproduction.

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Oli Williams @oliwilliams.bsky.social · 15/05/2025

Our (@gmthomas.bsky.social Tanisha Spratt @amychandler.bsky.social) book went to print - very exciting! The @britsoci.bsky.social London MedSoc Study Group is hosting a launch event (thanks @twiterney.bsky.social) on 19 June 18:00-19:30. All welcome, register here: www.eventbrite.com/e/bsa-london...

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Egg donation: what's really being said, and not said, to potential donors? Our new research analyzes how fertility clinics across Belgium, Spain, and the UK present medical risks and incentives on their websites- and what that means for women considering donation. www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10....

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 14/04/2025

Check out this paper! Exploring how direct-to-consumer genetic testing is reshaping the world of gamete donor conception — and what that means for families, professionals, and policy makers www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Exploring how direct-to-consumer genetic testing and social media are reshaping donor conception and kinship. Parents share their views on the ‘right age’ for kids to connect with donor relatives and how childhood influences these decisions🧬 journals.sagepub.com/doi/epub/10....

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Read this paper by Nicky Hudson, Cathy Herbrand and Lorraine Culley on the emergence and use of expanded carrier screening in gamete donation. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10....

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 28/03/2025

Celebrating the professorial inaugural lecture of Prof. Cathy Herbrand this week… 🥳

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 25/03/2025

Happening this evening! Still time to book a place - check out our linktree

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

We are delighted to welcome Dr Sophie Zadeh @sussex.ac.uk to present a seminar on 'Sibling ‘mismatches’ in donor conception'. She looks at how challenging 'resemblance talk' is when donor siblings connect with bio family but find out they don't resemble or feel an affinity with them.

front page of slide deck giving the seminar title, sibling mismatches in donor conception

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Join us for Cathy Herbrand’s upcoming lecture! Still time to book with the link below and on our linktree

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Progress Educational Trust (PET) @pet-bionews.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Bupa plans to offer a new genomic screening approach to clients that, it is claimed, can evaluate an individual's risk of developing seven common diseases. Dr Joanne Delange writes in BioNews: www.progress.org.uk/polygenic-ri... #polygenicriskscores #polygenics #genomics #genetics #healthinsurance

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Dr Anna Nelson @annanelson95.bsky.social · 13/03/2025

Delighted that @bevclough.bsky.social & I have received a BA/Leverhulme Small Grant for our project ‘Birth Doulas as a Liminal Actor With/in Medical Law: Identifying Regulatory & Conceptual Tensions’. We’ve been plotting this project for over 2 years & are so excited to bring it to life!

A white hand with pink painted nails holds up a notebook against a dark purple wall, opened at the front page. The handwritten text on this page reads: ‘BA/Lev Small Grant. Doulas as Liminal Actors. 2025-2026.

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

A step forward in the improvement of endometriosis management: ‘First-of-a-kind’ daily pill for endometriosis treatment approved for NHS in England www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

theguardian.com

‘First-of-a-kind’ daily pill for endometriosis treatment approved for NHS in England

Relugolix-estradiol-norethisterone can be taken at home, eliminating need for trips to clinics for injections

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 14/03/2025

CRR member Kate Pleace has this week published a book about life with premature ovarian insufficiency. This is also the topic of Kate’s PhD : olympiapublishers.com/book/progest....

olympiapublishers.com

Olympia Publishers | Progesterone and Me by Kate Pleace

Author: Kate Pleace, Book: Progesterone and Me, Category: Coming Soon, Price: £8.99, Length: 154 pages. Browse & Buy Now

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

Our next in-person seminar on 19th March focuses on gamete donation - come join us! Email crr@dmu.ac.uk for more information or to book a place

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Centre for Reproduction Research @crrdmu.bsky.social · 28/02/2025

We have joined BlueSky! Now to figure things out…. 👀

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