Annual Meeting - 2nd June 2010

Following an introduction from our Chairman, Sir Victor Blank, Professor Lesley Regan explained how the charity had made a difference early on in her career, but had also made a difference to her as a mother and a woman.  She also talked about how important it was for the future of obstetrics and gynaecology, and indeed for women's health in general, that the charity continued with its support for trainees by providing bursaries, entry level scholarships and research fellowships.  Without these there would be no-one to take on the work of research when experts such as Professor Regan retire. 

One of our Research Fellows, David Lissauer from Birmingham Women's Hospital, then presented an interim report on his fascinating project entitled 'Understanding the Legacy of Pregnancy'.  His project looks at how the placenta does not provide a complete barrier between mother and baby and that cells can migrate from the fetus into the mother.  These cells can then remain within the mother for many years after the birth of the child.  The project looks at what effects these cells have on the woman's own health, particularly in relation to auto-immune conditions and other health events where the immune response is a major factor - such as transplants and recurrent miscarriage.  The team involved hope that a greater understanding of the role of these cells and the t-cells produced by the mother's immune system in response to them - will lead to new tests and targets for treatment.

Meena Rafiq, one of our recent bursary students presented her poster on the project that she undertook at the Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.  The bursary enabled her to undertake a project entitled 'Use of Fetal Surgery to repair aortic stenosis and the practicalities of indroducing this procedure in the UK'.  Aortic stenosis is a heart defect which prevents the left ventricle of the heart from fully developing.  If this is corrected in the fetus before heart development is complete this can lead to a much better prognosis for the baby.  If the heart defect is left un-corrected, the baby will almost certainly have a much worse outcome and face immediate ante-natal surgery which will almost certainly be followed by many other surgical interventions and potentially heart transplant with a very low life expectancy.  The corrective fetal surgery procedure had been developed and was in use around the world but the Boston Children's Hospital had the highest success rate.  Meena's project looks at the specific elements of the procedure as carried out in Boston that have lead to this success, with a view to these adaptions being introduced into UK practice.

Meena's poster presentation was selected by the Society of Cardio-Thoracic Surgeons to be displayed at their Annual Scientific Meeting in Liverpool in March this year.  A great honour for any student.

Meena was on hand at the meeting to talk about her project and answer questions.

Following the presentations by the researchers, Julie Chakraverty, one of our Wellbeing of Women ambassadors, made heartfelt speech about the importance of giving back, of investing in the health of women today and in the future.  Julie has had a long and successful career in the City, having been, most recently a UBS Investment Bank Board Member until May 2008 when she decided to take a career break to spend time with her young daughter.  In 2007 she was honored by Her Majesty the Queen, won a 'City Woman' Achievement Award, and named in Financial News 'Rising Stars Under 40'.

Liz Campbell closed the meeting by thanking the supporters, trustees, researchers and staff of the charity.

The theme for this year's Annual Meeting was encouraging young researchers and clinicians.

Through the Wellbeing of Women Medical Student and Midwifery Bursaries the charity seeks to encourage the best and brightest students to enter the Obs & Gynae specialty and to seek to become the researchers of the future.

Using information from the reports of the 2009 bursary students a display of posters highlighted the benefits both to the student, to their future practice and in many cases to their host hospital or healthcare environment - many in the developing world, that these busaries provide.

One of our supporters who had specifically given money to fund bursaries says:

"Funding elective bursaries is very rewarding; the whole process is usually complete in just a few months. You know exactly where your money is spent and with the follow up reports sent to you, what knowledge was gained.

Hopefully one of the students I have funded will become a talented researcher of tomorrow."

Last year we were able to fund 20 bursaries.  This year thanks to the generosity of supporters, we were able to fund 30 bursaries, however we had applications from over 100 students and many were therefore disappointed.

If you would like to fund a bursary please contact Liz on 020 7772 6400

Link to map of busary projects around the world in 2009 and 2010

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