Amy Wooldridge

Dr Amy Wooldridge

Postdoctoral Research Fellow

School of Biological Sciences

Faculty of Sciences, Engineering and Technology

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, working with Dr. Alison Care and Prof. Laura Parry. The research projects in the Vascular Immunology in Pregnancy research group are run collaboratively with the Reproductive Immunology group, headed by Professor Sarah Robertson.

HONOURS AND HDR PROJECTS:
I am available to supervise research projects in vascular physiology of pregnancy complications. Please e-mail myself or Dr. Alison Care (https://researchers.adelaide.edu.au/profile/alison.care) to discuss.
Possible projects in 2024:
1) Testing a novel therapeutic for vascular dysfunction associated with gestational diabetes
2) Investigating the vascular dysfunction associated with preeclampsia using mouse models

Location: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences Building, North Terrace

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 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).

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2019 - 2023 Postdoctoral Fellow University of Alberta

  • Awards and Achievements
    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 Scholarship Robert Seamark Scholarship in Obstetrics and Gynaecology - - 10,000
    2015 Award Healthy Development Adelaide Travel Grant - - 1000
    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 -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    2013 - 2017 University of Adelaide Australia PhD
    2012 - 2012 University of Adelaide Australia Honours I (Science)
    2009 - 2011 University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Animal Science)

  • Certifications
    Date Title Institution name Country
    2015 Systematic Review Training (Modules 1 & 2) Joanna Briggs Institute -

  • Research Interests
    Cardiovascular System & Hematology Developmental Biology Maternal Health Obstetrics and Gynaecology Physiology

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

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.

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    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

  • Committee Memberships
    Date Role Committee Institution Country
    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

  • Memberships
    Date Role Membership Country
    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

  • Community Engagement
    Date Title Engagement Type Institution Country
    2022 - ongoing 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

  • Presentation
    Date Topic Presented at Institution Country
    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

  • Review, Assessment, Editorial and Advice
    Date Title Type Institution Country
    2023 - ongoing Graduate scholarship applications Grant Assessment Canadian Institutes for Health Research Canada
    2022 - ongoing Graduate scholarship applications Grant Assessment Canadian Institutes for Health Research Canada
    2021 - ongoing Innovation grant applications Grant Assessment Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Canada
    2021 - ongoing Summer studentship applications Grant Assessment Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Canada
    2020 - ongoing Graduate Studentship Applications Grant Assessment Women and Children’s Health Research Institute Canada
  • Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellow
  • Phone: 83133018
  • Email: amy.wooldridge@adelaide.edu.au
  • Fax: 83134099
  • Campus: North Terrace
  • Building: Adelaide Health and Medical Sciences
  • Org Unit: School of Biological Sciences
Connect With Me
External Profiles