Associate Professor Kirsty Walters

Dr Kirsty Walters is a Senior Lecturer in Women’s and Children’s Health at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, specialising in the field of female reproduction and ovarian function.

Background:

Dr Walters was awarded her PhD in 2005 from Edinburgh University, Scotland, and was then recruited by the ANZAC Research Institute (ARI) to undertake a post-doctoral position investigating the role androgens play in regulating female reproduction and physiology. In February 2016 the UNSW recruited her to head up the Ovarian Biology Laboratory based in the Wallace Wurth, which forms part of the world-leading biomedical precinct at UNSW.

Research interests:

Dr Walters’ research involves using customized genetic mouse models in combination with clinical samples and trials to dissect out the fundamental mechanisms regulating female reproduction and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). In particular, her research has focused on understanding the role androgens play in regulating female fertility and PCOS. Findings from this research will identify therapeutic targets for improved treatment of female infertility and the wide range of health issues associated with PCOS, including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk.

Awards:

2018 - UNSW Medicine - Award for Research Excellence 2018                         

2018 - Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Women’s & Children’s Health Research Award                                                        

2018 - Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, School of Women’s & Children’s Health Highly Commended Postgraduate Staff Teaching Award

2018 - Endocrine Society of Australia (ESA) Mid-Career Researcher Award

2017 - Society for Reproductive Biology - Reproduction, Fertility and Development publication of the year award

2017 - The Endocrine Society of Australia Ken Wynne Memorial Postdoctoral Research Award

2016 - Society for Reproductive Biology Visiting Lecturer Award

2015 - Society for Reproductive Biology, Newcastle, Reproduction Emerging Research Leader Award

2015 - Research Supervisor Award, Sydney Research, Sydney Local Health District

2011 - University of Sydney, Deans Early Researcher Award at the Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health Theme meeting

2009 - Australian Menopause Society Young Investigator Award

2006 - Society for Reproductive Biology Young Investigator Award

Publications:

Dr Walters currently has >45 peer-reviewed publications, in in top ranking journals including PNAS, Endocrinology, Human Reproduction Update and Biology of Reproduction.

Funding:

Dr Walters has a strong track record in successful category 1 competitive grant funding with the award of an ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA) starting 2012 (DE120100796: $375,000 over 3 years), three NHMRC Project Grants as CIA starting 2010 (#632678: $520,500 over 3 years), 2012 (APP1022648: $493,515 over 3 years) and 2019 (APP1158540: $756,560 over 4 years), two other NHMRC Project Grants as CIC, starting 2011 (APP1008160: $408,374 over 3 years) and CIF, starting 2018 (APP1139763: $808,340 over 4 years) and an ARC Discovery grant as CIC, starting 2018 ($510,580 over 3 years).

Professional contributions:

Dr Walters has acted as referee for national (NHMRC project grants and review panel for the NHMRC Early Career Fellowships, and ARC Discovery Projects and Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards) and international (Medical Research Council , UK, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Wellbeing of Women, UK and Kentucky Science and Engineering Foundation, USA) grants. She has also served as an invited reviewer for 19 peer-review journals, including PNAS, Human Reproduction, Endocrinology, Biology of Reproduction, Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology, Fertility and Sterility, PLOS ONE and Reproduction. She is currently Program Organising Committee Co-Chair for the annual conference (2016-18) and councillor (on-going since 2013) for the Society for Reproductive Biology. She is also a member of the NHMRC CRE in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Training Committee.