51Âþ»­

A new research centre dedicated to the latest cutting-edge topics on human reproduction has been launched at 51Âþ»­ Leicester (51Âþ»­).

The Centre for Reproduction Research will bring together academics from a range of disciplines to develop new ways of thinking on issues and challenges which have a huge effect on the lives of millions of people.

INSET research reprod

Current topics include:

•    Age and reproductive timing
•    Cross-border reproductive travel
•    Egg and mitochondrial donation
•    Egg freezing
•    Ethnicity, religion and assisted conception
•    Gay and lesbian parenthood
•    Genetic disorders and reproductive technologies
•    Men, infertilities, technologies and fatherhood
•    Pregnancy and childbirth
•    Socio-psychological aspects of endometriosis
•    Surrogacy

The team includes sociologists, psychologists, anthropologists, academics from the field of science and technology studies, nurses, midwives and health policy experts.

A key tenet of the centre is that research is crucial to inform the best initiatives in policy and practice, and the team work closely with patients, families and other end users to ensure best practice.

The centre was launched this week at a packed event which gave an insight into the current research work of members and outlined the centre’s research ambitions.

INSET 2 reprod research
Centre director Dr Nicky Hudson, Reader in Medical Sociology, said the launch was a huge success. She added: "The event brought together people from across the sector to discuss the exciting future for
the centre. This collaborative, inter-disciplinary approach is what the impetus for the new centre is all about - sharing knowledge and working together.

"The future for the centre is very exciting."

Dr Simon Oldroyd, Dean of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, help launched the centre. He said: "It was a fantastic day and a great way to launch the new centre, with representatives from the science, policy, midwifery, social sciences, medicine and clinical fields all in attendance.

"The aim of the centre will be to solve problems quicker and produce research which makes a real difference on society and people's lives.

"The university and our faculty has an excellent reputation for research and the bedrock of this is our high-quality people and researchers, something which the new centre will be building on.

"The immediate job now for the future is to build on the momentum gained from the launch today."
 
The CRR has attracted funding from Wellcome Trust, Economic and Social Research Council, National Institute for Health Research, Foundation for Sociology of Health and Illness, national charities and NHS Trusts.

It has close links with a number of other academic research groups and centres, both nationally and internationally.