Kerrie Foyle

Kerrie Foyle

School of Biomedicine

Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences

Eligible to supervise Masters and PhD - email supervisor to discuss availability.

Kerrie Foyle is a postdoctoral researcher in the Reproductive Immunology Group led by Prof Sarah Robertson. Her research investigates contributions of the immune system to fertility and conception.

In pregnancy, the immune system plays critical roles in accepting the fetus, which is recognised as foreign, and facilitating tissue adaptations that support fetal and placental development. However, defective or inappropriate immune responses in pregnancy are linked to pathologies including recurrent miscarriage, preterm birth, pre-eclampsia and more.

Kerrie's research uses human blood samples and mouse models to investigate how changes in the abundance or function of anti-inflammatory cells called T regulatory (Treg) cells contributes to pregnancy health, and how they can be modulated to treat recurrent implantation failure, recurrent miscarriage and preterm birth to improve fertility and pregnancy success.

  • Appointments
    Date Position Institution name
    2020 - ongoing Postdoctoral researcher University of Adelaide

  • Awards and Achievements
    Date Type Title Institution Name Country Amount
    2023 Award 2023 Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences (FHMS) Travel Grant to attend ASRI, USA The University of Adelaide Australia $3000
    2023 Award 2023 Robinson Research Institute Travel Grant Robinson Research Institute (RRI) Australia $2000
    2023 Award Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences Travel Award to attend IUIS, South Africa. The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2023 Award Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology IUIS Special Travel Award Australian and New Zealand Society for Immunology Australia -
    2022 Award Australasian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) SA Scientific Meeting Best Early Career Researcher Oral Presentation Award Australasian Society for Medical Research (ASMR) Australia -
    2018 Award Australasian Society for Immunology SA-NT branch-sponsored travel bursary to attend the ASI Annual Scientific Meeting in Perth Australasian Society for Immunology Australia -
    2018 Award Adelaide Immunology Retreat PhD oral presentation second place award Australasian Society for Immunology Australia -
    2016 Award 2016 Hospital Research Foundation/Australasian Society for Immunology SA-NT branch co-sponsored travel bursary to attend the International Congress of Immunology meeting Hospital Research Foundation/Australasian Society for Immunology Australia -
    2012 Award 2012 Derrick Rowley Prize for the highest score in Honours in Microbiology and Immunology The University of Adelaide Australia 250
    2011 Award Faculty of Sciences Outstanding Academic Achievement Award The University of Adelaide Australia -
    2010 Award Faculty of Sciences Outstanding Academic Achievement Award The University of Adelaide Australia -

  • Education
    Date Institution name Country Title
    University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Molecular Biology)
    University of Adelaide Australia Bachelor of Science (Honours)
    University of Adelaide Australia Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

  • Research Interests
    Fertility and Conception Immunology and Infection Autoimmunity Cellular Immunology Immunology Reproductive Biology Tumour Immunology

  • Current Higher Degree by Research Supervision (University of Adelaide)
    Date Role Research Topic Program Degree Type Student Load Student Name
    2024 Co-Supervisor Significance of impaired immune tolerance for infertility in men. Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Ms Shreetha Ramasubramanian
    2022 Co-Supervisor Early life origins of autoimmunity Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Stacey Jasmin Savin
    2021 Co-Supervisor Regulatory T cell contributions to maternal immune system dysfunction in preterm birth Doctor of Philosophy Doctorate Full Time Miss Jessie Rose Walker

  • Other Supervision Activities
    Date Role Research Topic Location Program Supervision Type Student Load Student Name
    2023 - 2023 Co-Supervisor The significance of maternal T cells in disparate paternal histocompatibility outcomes The University of Adelaide Molecular & Biomedical Sciences Honours Full Time Uyen Le Phuong Pham
    2023 - 2023 Co-Supervisor Determining contributions of androgen signalling to Treg cell responses and healthy pregnancy progression. The University of Adelaide Master of Biotechnology (Biomedical) Other Full Time Shreetha Ramasubramanian
    2021 - 2021 Co-Supervisor Relationship between peripheral regulatory T cells and sperm parameters in men The University of Adelaide - Honours Full Time Shrestha Sharma
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