Renae Fernandez

Research Interests

Epidemiology Fertility Reproduction Early Origins of Health Fertility and Conception Pregnancy and Birth

Dr Renae Fernandez

Grant Funded Researcher (A)

School of Public Health

College of Health

Having completed my PhD in 2017, I am now working as a postdoctoral researcher within the Life Course and Intergenerational Health Research Group, Robinson Research Institute at the University of Adelaide.My research focuses on maternal conditions during pregnancy, and prenatal and perinatal exposure to environmental factors and the consequences these have for child health and development.I am currently involved in various projects relating reproductive epidemiology including:- Health profiles and health services use of women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)- Pregnancy and perinatal outcomes of children conceived using fertility treatmentsMy PhD research involved a series of epidemiological studies focusing on the consequences of women’s night shift work for infertility and reproductive outcomes.

My research interests include:

  • Reproductive epidemiology
  • Occupational epidemiology
  • Reproductive and intergenerational health
  • Environmental determinants of disease

Date Position Institution name
2019 - ongoing Grant Funded Researcher University of Adelaide
2018 - 2018 Career Development Fellow University of Adelaide
2017 - 2018 Research Associate University of Adelaide
2014 - 2017 Assistant to the Co-Directors University of Adelaide
2013 - 2017 Research Assistant University of Adelaide
2012 - 2017 PhD Candidate University of Adelaide
2011 - 2012 Data Assistant University of Adelaide
2010 - 2011 Research Assistant University of Western Australia, Perth

Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
2018 Fellowship Robinson Research Institute Career Development Fellowship - - -
2017 Scholarship 2017 Konrad Jamrozik Student Scholarship Public Health Association Australia SA Branch Australia -
2017 Research Award Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence University of Adelaide - -
2015 Scholarship SafeWork SA Augusta Zadow Scholarship University of Adelaide - -
2009 Scholarship Governor Sanderson Scholarship in Population Health (Dr Haruhisa Handa Leadership Scholarship Program) University of Western Australia - -
2008 Award The CDJ Holman Prize for Excellence in Public Health University of Western Australia - -

Date Institution name Country Title
2012 - 2017 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
2009 - 2010 University of Western Australia Australia MPH
2004 - 2008 University of Western Australia Australia B.HlthSc
2004 - 2008 University of Western Australia Australia B.Comm

Year Citation
2025 Moore, V., Rumbold, A., Fernandez, R., McElroy, H., Moore, L., Giles, L., . . . Davies, M. (2025). Clomiphene citrate medication for infertility and risk of stillbirth or neonatal death: a population-based cohort study. Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism, 110(7), 1818-1827.
DOI WoS1 Europe PMC1
2025 Fernandez, R. C., Moore, V., Boyle, J., Rumbold, A. R., Davies, M., Mazza, D., & Grzeskowiak, L. E. (2025). Trends in clinical encounters and management for infertility among women attending Australian general practice: a national longitudinal study using MedicineInsight, 2011 to 2021. BMJ Open, 15(2), e085149-1-e085149-11.
DOI
2024 Gomersall, J. C., Moore, V. M., Fernandez, R. C., Giles, L. C., Grzeskowiak, L. E., Davies, M. J., & Rumbold, A. R. (2024). Maternal modifiable factors and risk of congenital heart defects: systematic review and causality assessment.. BMJ open, 14(8), e082961.
DOI Scopus3 WoS2 Europe PMC1
2022 Moore, V., Rumbold, A., Fernandez, R., McElroy, H., Moore, L., Giles, L., . . . Davies, M. (2022). Dispensing of clomiphene citrate to treat infertility: medication supplied and population prevalence of assisted pregnancies and multiple births. Fertility and Sterility, 117(1), 202-212.
DOI Scopus4 WoS4 Europe PMC4
2021 Fernandez, R. C., Moore, V. M., Rumbold, A. R., Whitrow, M. J., Avery, J. C., & Davies, M. J. (2021). Diagnosis delayed: health profile differences between women with undiagnosed polycystic ovary syndrome and those with a clinical diagnosis by age 35 years. Human Reproduction, 36(8), 2275-2284.
DOI Scopus26 WoS24 Europe PMC20
2020 Rumbold, A., Sevoyan, A., Oswald, T., Fernandez, R., Davies, M., & Moore, V. (2020). Re: Impact of Male Factor Infertility on Offspring Health and Development. JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, 203(3), 451.
DOI WoS1 Europe PMC1
2020 Fernandez, R. C., Moore, V. M., Marino, J. L., Whitrow, M. J., & Davies, M. J. (2020). Night shift among women: is it associated with difficulty conceiving a first birth?. Frontiers in Public Health, 8, 595943-1-595943-9.
DOI Scopus24 WoS20 Europe PMC19
2019 Rumbold, A. R., Sevoyan, A., Oswald, T. K., Fernandez, R. C., Davies, M. J., & Moore, V. M. (2019). Impact of male factor infertility on offspring health and development. Fertility and Sterility, 111(6), 1047-1053.
DOI Scopus75 WoS65 Europe PMC45
2019 Avery, J. C., Moran, L., Moore, V., Fernandez, R., Whitrow, M., Stocks, N., . . . Rumbold, A. (2019). Prevalence of self-reported polycystic ovary syndrome and profiles of health among women of different generations: a cross sectional study. Fertility & Reproduction, 1(3), 141-147.
DOI Scopus5
2018 Walasa, W., Carey, R., Si, S., Fritschi, L., Heyworth, J., Fernandez, R., & Boyle, T. (2018). Association between shiftwork and the risk of colorectal cancer in females: a population-based case-control study. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 75(5), 344-350.
DOI Scopus26 WoS21 Europe PMC22
2018 Fernandez, R., Moore, V., Van Ryswyk, E., Varcoe, T., Rodgers, R., March, W., . . . Davies, M. (2018). Sleep disturbances in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: prevalence, pathophysiology, impact and management strategies. Nature and Science of Sleep, 10, 45-64.
DOI Scopus91 WoS77 Europe PMC62
2018 March, W., Whitrow, M., Davies, M., Fernandez, R., & Moore, V. (2018). Postnatal depression in a community-based study of women with polycystic ovary syndrome. Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica, 97(7), 838-844.
DOI Scopus12 WoS9 Europe PMC9
2017 Rumbold, A., Moore, V., Whitrow, M., Oswald, T., Moran, L., Fernandez, R., . . . Davies, M. (2017). The impact of specific fertility treatments on cognitive development in childhood and adolescence: a systematic review. Human Reproduction, 32(7), 1489-1507.
DOI Scopus67 WoS60 Europe PMC48
2017 Adams, D., Fernandez, R., Moore, V., Willson, K., Rumbold, A., de Lacey, S., . . . Davies, M. (2017). Sperm donation perinatal outcomes in an Australian population cohort. The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, 43(12), 1830-1839.
DOI Scopus8 WoS7 Europe PMC6
2016 Fernandez, R., Marino, J., Varcoe, T., Davis, S., Moran, L., Rumbold, A., . . . Moore, V. (2016). Fixed or rotating night shift work undertaken by women: implications for fertility and miscarriage. Seminars in Reproductive Medicine, 34(2), 74-82.
DOI Scopus69 WoS57 Europe PMC48
2016 Tan, T., Ritter, L., Whitty, A., Fernandez, R., Moran, L., Robertson, S., . . . Brown, H. (2016). Gray level co-occurrence matrices (GLCM) to assess microstructural and textural changes in pre-implantation embryos. Molecular Reproduction and Development, 83(8), 701-713.
DOI Scopus30 WoS25 Europe PMC12
2014 Fernandez, R., Peters, S., Carey, R., Davies, M., & Fritschi, L. (2014). Assessment of exposure to shiftwork mechanisms in the general population: the development of a new job-exposure matrix. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 71(10), 723-729.
DOI Scopus17 WoS17 Europe PMC11
2012 Rammohan, A., Awofeso, N., & Fernandez, R. (2012). Paternal education status significantly influences infants’ measles vaccination uptake, independent of maternal education status. BMC Public Health, 12(1), 336-1-336-7.
DOI Scopus83 WoS74 Europe PMC64
2012 Fritschi, L., Fernandez, R. C., Vallance, D. A., Slevin, T. J., Reid, A., Driscoll, T. R., & Glass, D. C. (2012). Controlling occupational cancers in Australia. The Medical Journal of Australia, 196(3), 162-164.
DOI Scopus2 WoS1
2012 Fernandez, R., Driscoll, T., Glass, D., Vallance, D., Reid, A., Benke, G., & Fritschi, L. (2012). A priority list of occupational carcinogenic agents for preventative action in Australia. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 36(2), 111-115.
DOI Scopus18 WoS16 Europe PMC10
2011 Fernandez, R., Rammohan, A., & Awofeso, N. (2011). Correlates of first dose of measles vaccination delivery and uptake in Indonesia. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine, 4(2), 140-145.
DOI Scopus24 WoS18 Europe PMC17
2011 Fernandez, R., Awofeso, N., & Rammohan, A. (2011). Determinants of apparent rural-urban differentials in measles vaccination uptake in Indonesia. Rural and Remote Health, 11(3), 1702-1-1702-14.
DOI Scopus35 WoS32 Europe PMC26
2011 Awofeso, N., & Fernandez, R. (2011). Restoring dignity: Community arts in leprosy control. Leprosy Review, 82(3), 316-318.
DOI

Year Citation
2024 Davies, M., Rumbold, A., Fernandez, R., McElroy, H., & Moore, V. (2024). Perinatal deaths to women dispensed clomiphene citrate: A study within a whole of population birth cohort. In HUMAN REPRODUCTION Vol. 39 (pp. I549). NETHERLANDS, Amsterdam: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2023 Davies, M., Rumbold, A., Moore, L., Fernandez, R., Giles, L., McElroy, H., & Moore, V. (2023). Urogenital defects in live births to women dispensed clomiphene citrate: A study within a whole of population birth cohort. In HUMAN REPRODUCTION Vol. 38 (pp. 2 pages). OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2018 Fernandez, R., Moore, V., Willson, K., Rumbold, A., & Davies, M. (2018). The risk of urogenital anomalies in children conceived with ICSI using fresh or frozen embryo cycles. In HUMAN REPRODUCTION Vol. 33 (pp. 32-33). Barcelona, SPAIN: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2018 Davies, M., March, W., Whitrow, M., Fernandez, R., & Moore, V. (2018). Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at increased risk of postnatal depression. In HUMAN REPRODUCTION Vol. 33 (pp. 322). Barcelona, SPAIN: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2016 Moore, V., Rumbold, A., Whitrow, M., Oswald, T., Moran, L., Fernandez, R., & Davies, M. (2016). The influence of specific infertility treatments on long-term cognitive abilities in children: a systematic review. In HUMAN REPRODUCTION Vol. 31 (pp. 107-108). OXFORD UNIV PRESS.

Year Citation
2019 Davies, M., Rumbold, A., Willson, K., Fernandez, R., Scheil, W., & Moore, V. (2019). Treatment Factors and the Risk of Specific Congenital Heart Defects. Poster session presented at the meeting of HUMAN REPRODUCTION. Vienna, AUSTRIA: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2017 Davies, M., Fernandez, R., Willson, K., Rumbold, A., Scheil, W., & Moore, V. (2017). Does night shift work increase the risk of urogenital defects after ART treatment?. Poster session presented at the meeting of HUMAN REPRODUCTION. Geneva, SWITZERLAND: OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2016 Davies, M., Rumbold, A., Fernandez, R., Willson, K., Scheil, W., & Moore, V. (2016). Which patient and treatment factors contribute to the risk of congenital heart defects after art?. Poster session presented at the meeting of HUMAN REPRODUCTION. OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2016 Davies, M., Rumbold, A., Fernandez, R., Willson, K., Scheil, W., & Moore, V. (2016). Which patient and treatment factors contribute to the risk of congenital heart defects after art?. Poster session presented at the meeting of HUMAN REPRODUCTION. OXFORD UNIV PRESS.
2016 Fernandez, R., Willson, K., Moore, V., & Davies, M. (2016). O23-2 Application of a shift work job-exposure matrix to investigate occupational differences in women’s accessing of fertility treatment and infertility diagnosis. Poster session presented at the meeting of Oral Session – Reproductive 1. BMJ Publishing Group Ltd.
DOI
2016 Davies, M. J., Willson, K. J., Fernandez, R., & Moore, V. M. (2016). Variation in the risk of congenital heart defects by mode of conception. Poster session presented at the meeting of DOHaD Australia and New Zealand. Adelaide, Australia.

Year Citation
2011 Callender, G., Marsh, P., & Fernandez, R. (2011). Scoping study on procurement in desert Australia. Ninti One Limited.

Year Citation
- Norman, R., Fernandez, R., Schjenken, J., & Robertson, S. (n.d.). Making Babies in the 21st Century.
DOI

Competitive Research Funding

State Competitive and Intramural Schemes

Date Project/No. Investigators Funding Body Amount
2020 ARGCHDG-41 Davies M; Moore V; Rumbold A; Moore L; Giles L; Grzeskowiak L; Fernandez R; McElroy H; Olibris B; Wen S FND000790: MRFF- Accelerated Research - Congenital Heart Disease $3,041,594
2017 ORG122583 Fernandez R. NHMRC Centre for Research Excellence in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Project Support Grant $13,700
2017   Fernandez R; Stark M; Moore V; Davies M. Robinson Research Institute, Innovation Seed Funding Program 2018 $23,723
2016   Davies M; Fernandez R; Gatford K; Varcoe T; Giles L; Moore V;  Kennaway D. Robinson Research Institute, Engaging Opportunities Program $9200
2016   Fernandez R. Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant $1000
2016   Fernandez R. Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant $1500
2016   Fernandez R. School of Medicine Research Travel Award $1854
2014 ORG97893 Fernandez R. SafeWork SA Augusta Zadow Scholarship $9483
2012   Fernandez R. Australian Postgraduate Award (3 year scholarship) $23,728/yr

 

University of Adelaide – School of Population Health

March 2015 – December 2017

Position: Assignment marking and exam supervision, second year undergraduate course – Experimental Research in Health Sciences (Advanced) II

July 2014 – November 2014

Position: Tutor, second year undergraduate course – Investigating Health and Disease in Populations II

July 2014 – November 2014

Position: Tutor (computer practical), postgraduate level course – Biostatistics

May 2013 – July 2013

Position: Tutor, one-on-one tutoring of a postgraduate student for Introduction to Biostatistics and Introduction to Epidemiology.

July 2012 – November 2013

Position: Tutor, first year undergraduate courses in Public Health – Public Health 1A (Semester 1 2013), Public Health 1B (Semester 2 2012, Semester 2 2013)

University of Western Australia – School of Population Health

August 2010 – November 2010

Position: Tutor, first year undergraduate unit in Public Health (PUBH1101)

Date Role Committee Institution Country
2023 - ongoing Co-Chair CRE WHiRL Early and Mid Career Researcher Collective Centre for Research Excellence in Women's Health in Reproductive Life Australia
2016 - 2016 Member Organising committee, Fay Gale Centre for Research on Gender Annual Symposium University of Adelaide -
2014 - ongoing Treasurer Health Sciences Postgraduate Association (HeSPA) - -
2013 - 2014 Secretary Health Sciences Postgraduate Association (HeSPA) - -

Date Role Membership Country
2017 - ongoing Member Public Health Association Australia -
2015 - ongoing - Fertility Society Australia -
2014 - ongoing - DOHaD Society of Australian and New Zealand -
2014 - ongoing - Health Development Adelaide -
2012 - ongoing - Australasian Epidemiological Association -
2012 - 2017 - Health Sciences Postgraduate Association -

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