Professor Erin Greaves

Supervisor Details

Contact Details

Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick

Scientific Background

Research Interests

I’m a scientist focused on understanding the role of the immune system in endometriosis. My goal is to discover how the disease develops and persists, so we can identify new, non-invasive ways to diagnose it and develop non-hormonal treatments that work better for more people. I lead research that bridges basic and translation science, aiming to improve the lives of those affected by endometriosis through discovery and translational science. I am also Director of the Centre for Early Life and co-lead for the Institute of Translational Medicine Women’s Health Mission.

Supervision Style

In three words or phrases: Supportive, goal-driven, collaborative.

Provision of Training

Technical training will be provided my me, experienced postdocs and the lab manager.

Progression Monitoring and Management

I like to be kept up to date, and will expect to see evidence of method development/data generation results on a daily/weekly basis.

Communication

I am known to email my team/PhD students at all hours of the day and night, however I will not expect you to do the same. We also have a group WhatsApp chat.

Meetings

PhD Students can expect scheduled meetings with me at least once per week. These meetings will be a mixture of face-to-face and via video chat or telephone. I am usually contactable for an instant response on every working day.

Work Patterns

The timing of work in my lab is completely flexible, and (other than attending pre-arranged meetings) I expect students to manage their own time.

Notice Period for Feedback

I need at least 2 weeks' notice to provide feedback on written work of up to 5,000 words.

MIBTP Project Details

Primary supervisor for:

Understanding the mechanisms of endometriosis through drug discovery

See the PhD Opportunities section to see if this project is currently open for applications via MIBTP.

Please Note: The main page lists projects via BBSRC Research Theme(s) quoted and then relevant Topic(s).

Understanding the mechanisms of endometriosis through drug discovery

Secondary Supervisor(s): Dr Alex Baker, Dr David Fox

University of Registration: University of Warwick

BBSRC Research Themes:

Understanding the Rules of Life (Immunology, Microbiology)
Integrated Understanding of Health (Pharmaceuticals)

Project Outline

Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, causing pelvic pain, painful periods, fatigue and infertility. It affects 1 in 10 women of reproductive age, yet diagnosis is often delayed for years. Current treatments are limited, highlighting a major unmet need for better therapies and improved understanding of the disease's biological mechanisms.

The project builds on a promising small molecule tested preclinically that acts on inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways relevant to endometriosis. Using this small molecule as a starting point, we will develop related molecules to determine which pathways are most important for its effects, with a particular focus on NLRP3, KEAP1/Nrf2 and macrophage function. This will help identify the biological mechanisms driving endometriosis and future targets for treatment.

This project uses structure activity relationship (SAR) guided drug design to better understand the underlying pathogenesis of endometriosis, for the purpose of finding druggable targets. To deliver this interdisciplinary project, supervision will be across Warwick Medical School and Warwick Chemistry.

Key objectives

Design and synthesise novel analogues to establish how chemical structure influences biological activity. Successful molecules will be refined using QSAR and other in silico techniques
Define the structure-activity relationships (SAR) of a preclinically tested small molecule and identify the molecular features responsible for its different biological effects.
Identify and validate the key molecular targets and pathways through which its analogues act, with a focus on inflammatory and oxidative stress pathways relevant to endometriosis, including NLRP3 and KEAP1/Nrf2 and macrophage activity.
Determine how modulation of these pathways affects endometriosis, using relevant cell and animal models to investigate inflammation, macrophage function and lesions