Teaching Strengths
Dr Amy Wooldridge
NHMRC Grant Funded Researcher (A)
School of Biological Sciences
College of Science
Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD (as Co-Supervisor) - email supervisor to discuss availability.
I am a postdoctoral researcher within the Vascular Immunology in Pregnancy Research Group (Pregnancy and Birth Theme, Robinson Research Institute), working with Dr. Alison Care and Prof. Laura Parry. My key areas of expertise are maternal vascular physiological adaptations to pregnancy (i.e. how a mother's blood vessels change to accommodate/facilitate pregnancy), pregnancy complications (for example, preeclampsia, gestational hypertension, and testing novel therapeutics to address the underlying vascular dysfunction) and developmental programming of offspring health after a pregnancy complication. I am not currently recruiting a research student, but if you are interested in research projects in vascular physiology of pregnancy complications, I suggest emailing Dr. Alison Care (https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/alison.care) to discuss. I am located in the Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, Biomedical Precinct. See tabs below for details about my Research, Teaching and Professional Activities.
My primary interests are in improving pregnancy (plus subsequent maternal and child) health by uncovering the mechanisms underlying impaired maternal vascular adaptations to pregnancy, such as those which occur with the potentially life-threatening condition known as preeclampsia. Both children and mothers who have been directly exposed to a preeclamptic pregnancy have a greater risk for cardiovascular disease many years later, thus preeclampsia affects lifelong health. Currently, there are no effective treatments for preeclampsia.
Since completing my B Sci (Animal Science) with First Class Honours in 2012, my research (including my PhD, conferred mid-2017) has focused on the physiology of healthy pregnancy outcomes. In June 2023, I returned to Australia after just over four years of postdoctoral research at the University of Alberta in Edmonton (Canada), where I trained in pregnancy-related vascular physiology. The techniques that I learned there include pressure myography (used to assess small artery responses to simulated increases in intraluminal pressure, and mechanical tissue properties) and wire myography (used to assess artery responses to vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory drugs).
| Date | Type | Title | Institution Name | Country | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Award | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting Poster Presentation Award | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada | - |
| 2022 | Award | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting Poster Presentation Award | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada | - |
| 2021 | Award | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting Poster Presentation Award | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada | - |
| 2020 | Scholarship | Canadian Institutes for Health Research Post-PhD Fellowship | Canadian Institutes for Health Research | Canada | - |
| 2020 | Scholarship | Alberta Innovates Postgraduate Fellowships in Health Innovation | Alberta Innovates | Canada | - |
| 2020 | Scholarship | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute | Canada | - |
| 2019 | Scholarship | Department of Health Merit Award for National Health and Medical Research Council ‘Near-Miss’ Funding (Western Australia) | University of Western Australia | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Scholarship | NIH-USDA Travel Award, Aspen/Snowmass Perinatal Biology Symposium | Aspen/Snowmass Perinatal Biology Symposium | United States | - |
| 2019 | Achievement | Robinson Research Institute Publication of the Month (June) – for first-author publication | Robinson Research Institute | Australia | - |
| 2019 | Recognition | Robinson Research Institute Publication of the Year (2019) – for first-author publication | Robinson Research Institute | Australia | - |
| 2017 | Recognition | Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2015 | Award | Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant | - | - | 1000 |
| 2015 | Scholarship | Robert Seamark Scholarship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology | - | - | 10,000 |
| 2015 | Recognition | Participation Award, 3-Minute Thesis Competition | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2015 | Research Award | Runner-up PhD Poster Award | - | Australia | - |
| 2015 | Award | Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand Travel Award | - | - | - |
| 2015 | Award | Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant | - | Australia | - |
| 2014 | Award | Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant | - | Australia | - |
| 2014 | Scholarship | Healthy Development Adelaide and Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation Supplementary Scholarship | - | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Award | Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2013 | Award | Endocrine Society of Australia Travel Award | - | - | - |
| 2013 | Scholarship | Australian Postgraduate Award | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2012 | Research Award | First Prize for Oral Presentation by an Honours/HDR student | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
| 2012 | Award | Endocrine Society of Australia Travel Award | - | Australia | - |
| 2012 | Scholarship | Commonwealth Hill Honours Scholarship | University of Adelaide | Australia | - |
Title: Canadian Institutes for Health Research Post-PhD Fellowship (ranked 12th of 506 applications)
Date: 2020-2023
Funder Name (Organisation): Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Total Awarded Amount: CAD 135,000
Title: Alberta Innovates Postgraduate Fellowships in Health Innovation
Date: 2020-2023
Funder Name (Organisation): Alberta Innovates - Health Solutions
Total Awarded Amount: CAD 165,000
Title: Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Postdoctoral Fellowship
Date: 2020-2022
Funder Name (Organisation): Women and Children’s Health Research Institute
Total Awarded Amount: CAD 82,000
Title: Robert Seamark Scholarship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Date: 2015-2016
Funder Name (Organisation): University of Adelaide
Total Awarded Amount: AUD 10,000
Title: Supplementary Scholarship
Strt Date: 2014-2015
Funder Name (Organisation): Healthy Development Adelaide and Channel 7 Children's Research Foundation
Total Awarded Amount: AUD 10,000
Title: Scholarship (Australian Postgraduate Award)
Date: 2013-2015
Funder Name (Organisation): Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Total Awarded Amount: AUD 75,894
Title: Commonwealth Hill Honours Scholarship
Date: 2012
Funder Name (Organisation): University of Adelaide
Total Awarded Amount: AUD 5,000
2026 Semester 2
- Course Tutor, HLTH 2002 First 1000 Days, Adelaide University. -Semester 2 2026.
- Course Tutor, BIO 2011 Reproduction & Developmental Biology, Adelaide University. -Semester 2 2026.
- Practical Demonstrator, HBIO 1003 Human Anatomy and Physiology B, Adelaide University. -Semester 2 2026.
- Guest Lecture (Video), BIOCHEM 2501/2503 (Biochemistry II: Metabolism), Adelaide University. -Semester 2 2026. Integrating Pathways: Diabetes Mellitus.
2026 Semester 1
- Practical Demonstrator, HBIO 1002 Human Anatomy and Physiology A, Adelaide University. -Semester 1 2026.
- Workshop Facilitator, HBIO 1002 Human Anatomy and Physiology A, Adelaide University. -Semester 1 2026.
- Workshop Facilitator (host), HLTH 1002 Introduction to Health Research, Adelaide University. -Semester 1 2026.
- Guest Workshop (co-host), MEDI 3001 Medical Studies 3, Adelaide University. ~March 2026. Perinatal exposures and later health (developmental programming/PICO workshop).
2025
- Guest Workshop (host), OB&GYNAE 3001 (Reproductive Biology), University of Adelaide. ~Sept 2025. Perinatal exposures and later health.
- Guest Lecture/Module, BIOCHEM 2501/2503 (Biochemistry II: Metabolism), University of Adelaide. ~Oct 2025. Integrating Pathways: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
- Guest Lecture/Module, BIOCHEM 2501/2503 (Biochemistry II: Metabolism), University of Adelaide. ~Oct 2025. Integrating Pathways: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
2024
- Guest Lecture/Module, BIOCHEM 2501/2503 (Biochemistry II: Metabolism), University of Adelaide. 9 Oct 2024. Integrating Pathways: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
- Guest Lecture/Module, BIOCHEM 2501/2503 (Biochemistry II: Metabolism), University of Adelaide. 8 Oct 2024. Integrating Pathways: Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus.
- Guest Workshop (host), OB&GYNAE 3001 (Reproductive Biology), University of Adelaide. 13 Sept 2024. Perinatal exposures and later health.
2023
- Guest Workshop (co-host), OB&GYNAE 3001 (Reproductive Biology), University of Adelaide. 14 Sept 2023. Perinatal exposures and later health.
- Guest Lecture, NUFS 458 (Current Topics and Controversies in Nutrition), University of Alberta. Canada, 7 Feb 2023. Putting research into context: the importance of multiple approaches.
pre-2023
- Demonstrator, Comp Anatomy & Physiol IIB, University of Adelaide. Semester 2 2018.
- Demonstrator, Animal Nutrit & Metab, University of Adelaide. Semester 2 2018.
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Location | Program | Supervision Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - 2024 | Principal Supervisor | Novel therapeutic against the vascular dysfunction associated with gestational diabetes in women | University of Adelaide | School of Molecular and Biomedical Science | Honours | Full Time | Sophie Schultz |
| 2022 - 2023 | Co-Supervisor | Effects of advanced maternal age on the structure and function of omental resistance arteries during pregnancy | University of Alberta | PHYSL468/469 | Honours | - | Christy Chan |
| 2021 - 2022 | Co-Supervisor | Effects of advanced maternal age on pregnancy-induced remodeling of uterine artery structure | University of Alberta | PHYSL 468/469 | Honours | - | Palehswan Chitrakar |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 - ongoing | Member | Flinders University Animal Ethics Committee | Flinders University (External Member) | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | Early Career Committee | Society for Reproductive Investigation | United States |
| 2018 - 2018 | Representative | International Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Trainee Association founding committee | International Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) Society | United Kingdom |
| 2018 - 2018 | Representative | DOHaD ANZ Early Career Researcher Committee | DOHaD ANZ Society | Australia |
| 2017 - 2019 | Representative | Perinatal Society of ANZ ECR representative | Perinatal Society of ANZ | Australia |
| 2017 - 2018 | Representative | DOHaD Society of ANZ Council | DOHaD Society of ANZ | Australia |
| 2015 - 2015 | Member | 2015 Local Organising Committee, Endocrine Society of Australia | - | Australia |
| 2014 - 2015 | Representative | Postgraduate student representative, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology | University of Adelaide | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | South Australian Cardiovascular Research Network | Australia |
| 2023 - 2025 | Member | Australian and New Zealand Microcirculation (ANZMS) | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | Society for Reproductive Biology | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Member | Australian and New Zealand Placental Research Association | Australia |
| 2021 - ongoing | Member | Society for Reproductive Investigation | United States |
| 2020 - 2023 | Member | DOHaD Canada | Canada |
| 2017 - 2017 | Member | Society for Reproductive Biology | Australia |
| 2015 - 2023 | Member | DOHaD International | United Kingdom |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Developmental Origins of Health and Disease | - |
| 2013 - ongoing | Member | Perinatal Society of Australia and New Zealand | Australia |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - 2025 | Exhibitor | Public Community Engagement | Science Alive 2025 (Robinson Research Institute stall) | Australia |
| 2024 - ongoing | Volunteer (Organising Committee), Science in the Pub Adelaide | Public Community Engagement | Science in the Pub Adelaide | Australia |
| 2024 - 2024 | Volunteer (Adelaide), Pint of Science | Public Community Engagement | Pint of Science | Australia |
| 2022 - 2022 | Exhibitor | Scientific Community Engagement | TELUS World of Science Museum | Canada |
| 2018 - 2018 | Region Coordinator (Perth), Pint of Science | Scientific Community Engagement | Pint of Science | Australia |
| Date | Event Name | Event Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 - ongoing | Panel chair: in-training career workshop | Conference | Society for Reproductive Biology | United States |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - 2024 | Effects of Maternal C1q Deficiency on Vascular Function in Late-Pregnant Mice. | Vancouver, Canada | Society for Reproductive Investigation | Canada |
| 2023 - ongoing | Reduced compliancy of omental resistance arteries from pregnant women of advanced maternal age | Montebello, Canada | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada |
| 2023 - ongoing | Effects of advanced maternal age on the omental resistance arteries of pregnant women | Brisbane, Australia, Mar 2023 | Society for Reproductive Investigation | Australia |
| 2023 - ongoing | Putting research into context: the importance of multiple approaches. | Guest Lecture - NUFS 458 (Current Topics and Controversies in Nutrition) | University of Alberta | Canada |
| 2022 - ongoing | INVITED PRESENTATION: The impact of advanced maternal age on pregnancy outcome | Virtual meeting | 10th International Symposium on Women’s Health Issues in Thrombosis and Haemostasis | France |
| 2022 - ongoing | Advanced age impairs uterine artery adaptations to pregnancy in rats | Vancouver, Canada | International Society for the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease Congress | Canada |
| 2022 - ongoing | Advanced maternal age alters cardiac adaptations to pregnancy in rats | Edmonton, Canada | Cardiovascular Research Institute Research Day | Canada |
| 2022 - ongoing | Cardiac adaptations to pregnancy are altered with advanced maternal age | Edmonton, Canada | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Day | - |
| 2022 - ongoing | Effects of advanced maternal age on cardiac adaptations to pregnancy in rats | online event | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada |
| 2022 - ongoing | Advanced maternal age impairs uterine artery remodelling in the pregnant rat | Philadelphia, United States | Experimental Biology Meeting | United States |
| 2022 - ongoing | Effects of advanced maternal age on cardiac adaptations to pregnancy in rats | Denver, United States | Society for Reproductive Investigation | United States |
| 2021 - ongoing | Advanced maternal age adversely affects pregnancy outcomes and impairs main uterine artery adaptions to pregnancy in rats | Online | Postdoctoral Fellows Association Research Day | Canada |
| 2021 - ongoing | Advanced maternal age impairs pregnancy adaptations in the rat main uterine artery | Online | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Research Day | Canada |
| 2021 - ongoing | Uterine artery adaptations to pregnancy are impaired by advanced maternal age | Boston/online hybrid event, United States | Society for Reproductive Investigation | United States |
| 2021 - ongoing | Uterine artery adaptations to pregnancy are impaired by advanced maternal age | online event | Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Day | Canada |
| 2021 - ongoing | Researcher presenter | “Next generation of women’s health” event for donors | co-hosted by the Lois Hole Hospital Women’s Society and Women and Children’s Research Institute | Canada |
| 2021 - ongoing | Advanced maternal age impairs uterine artery adaptations to pregnancy | online event | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada |
| 2020 - ongoing | Exposure to maternal hypoxia during late gestation does not affect main uterine artery adaptations to pregnancy in adult offspring | Vancouver, Canada (cancelled due to covid) | Society for Reproductive Investigation | Canada |
| 2020 - ongoing | Maternal hypoxia exposure during late pregnancy worsens reproductive outcomes in adult female offspring | Banff, Canada | Canadian National Perinatal Research Meeting | Canada |
| 2019 - ongoing | Effects of prenatal hypoxia exposure on pregnancy outcomes in offspring later in life | Edmonton, Canada | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Research Day | Canada |
| 2019 - ongoing | Maternal allergic asthma during pregnancy alters fetal lung and immune development in sheep | Aspen/Snowmass, United States | Aspen/Snowmass Perinatal Biology Symposium | United States |
| Date | Title | Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 - 2026 | Article peer review | Peer Review | BJOG | - |
| 2023 - 2023 | Graduate scholarship applications | Grant Assessment | Canadian Institutes for Health Research | Canada |
| 2022 - 2022 | Graduate scholarship applications | Grant Assessment | Canadian Institutes for Health Research | Canada |
| 2021 - 2021 | Innovation grant applications | Grant Assessment | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute | Canada |
| 2021 - 2021 | Summer studentship applications | Grant Assessment | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute | Canada |
| 2020 - 2020 | Graduate Studentship Applications | Grant Assessment | Women and Children’s Health Research Institute | Canada |
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