Caroline Gargett

Professor Caroline Gargett, PhD discovered 2 types of adult stem cells in human endometrium in 2004, setting a new paradigm in uterine biology. She, with her group have since characterised both human, mouse and sheep endometrial epithelial progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC). Together they found the first markers defining these stem/progenitor cells and use them to purify the cells and examine their role in endometriosis in a large collaborative project with the Institute of Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, funded by the Department of Defence USA and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia. She also leads a large interdisciplinary, multi-institutional project developing endometrial MSC as a novel cell-based bioengineered therapy using non-degradable and degradable nano-biomaterials to treat Pelvic Organ Prolapse and fill the therapeutic void since transvaginal mesh was banned in Australia and elsewhere.

Professor Gargett has been continuously funded by NHMRC since 2004, having secured numerous project grants and fellowships, including an Investigator grant in 2019. She is considered the world authority on endometrial stem/progenitor cells and is frequently invited to speak at international conferences. She has received a number of national and international awards for her pioneering research, which has created a new understanding of proliferative gynaecological diseases, including endometriosis and endometrial cancer.

Professor Gargett has served as President of the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (2013-2014) and is currently a Director of the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia and Stem Cells Limited, and a Scientific Advisory Board Member for the Centre for Commercialization and Regenerative Medicine. She is currently an Editorial Board Member of Scientific Reports and Biology of Reproduction, and has had Associate Editor roles for Human Reproduction, Fertility & Sterility and Reproductive Sciences.