My research studies cover reproductive systems and the causes of reproductive disorders with the aim of improving clinical outcomes in women’s health.
Professor Grant Montgomery
Career overview
Early genetic mapping studies began in 1987 when I joined Professor Dianna Hill in the Biochemistry Department at the University of Otago to map and clone a gene that increased twinning frequency in sheep. Following success in this program, I moved to Australia making the transition to medical research. I now work with national and international partners in science and industry to study endometriosis, the causes of multiple births, and determinants of reproductive life span. Projects analyse genetic risk factors for disease and apply advanced genomics methods in tissue samples and cell-based models to discover the changes leading to disease to help develop better diagnosis and personalised treatments.
Endometriosis
A major focus for the last 25 years is studies on endometriosis and related disorders. Endometriosis affects 11% of women of reproductive age and is influenced by both genetic and environmental risk factors. It is a disease with a variety of subtypes and clinical presentations. We use genetics to discover causes of disease and analyse symptom profiles and genetic risk factors to develop tests for earlier diagnosis. We also study patient derived tissues and cells to discover genes and pathways responsible for increased disease risk to discover novel drug targets and design better personalised treatments.
Twins and Twinning
Spontaneous birth of twins includes non-identical or dizygotic (DZ) twins and genetically identical or monozygotic (MZ) twins. The frequency of DZ twins, arising from fertilisation of two eggs, is influenced by maternal age and by genetic factors. DZ twinning runs in families and shows striking variation across different populations. Mapping genetic risk factors for DZ twinning has identified genetic variants in candidate genes involved in hormone regulation and related signalling pathways in the ovaries that increase the numbers of eggs available for fertilisation.
Reproductive lifespan
Variation in reproductive lifespan and female fertility have implications for health, population size and ageing. In many societies, age at puberty has declined and the age of first childbirth has increased. These changes are associated with changing patterns of fertility and disease. I contribute to international studies on the causes of variation in age at puberty and menopause, and the consequences for disease during the reproductive years and in later life.