Professor Gargett (PhD 1997) is world-renowned for discovering stem/progenitor cells in human endometrium, the highly regenerative lining of the uterus, thereby establishing a new field of research in reproductive biology. Prof Gargett formed the Endometrial Stem Cell Biology Group in 2004 following the award of the top scoring NHMRC New Investigator grant to study endometrial stem cell biology. Having since determined the identity of the endometrial epithelial progenitor cell (bases of branching glands) and mesenchymal stem cells (around blood vessels) through discovery of novel surface markers for each cell type, Prof Gargett is now applying these breakthroughs to common gynaecological disorders. The group currently comprises 5 postdoctoral scientists, 3 support staff and 6 students.

Prof Gargett leads a multidisciplinary project on endometriosis in collaboration with Prof Grant Montgomery at University of Queensland and gynaecologist Professor Luk Rombauts, funded by the US Department of Defense. This project aims to determine the role of endometriosis risk genes in endometrial epithelial stem/progenitor cell function using integrated single cells RNAseq and ATACseq, endometrial epithelial organoid and patient-derived xenograft technologies.

Prof Gargett leads an interdisciplinary project in collaboration with Monash Health urogynaecologist Associate Professor Anna Rosamilia  developing a cell-based therapy using endometrial mesenchymal stem cells and degradable nanobiomaterials in collaboration with Dr Shayanti Mukherjee and Professor Jerome Werkmeister (formerly CSIRO) in her team to treat and prevent POP, a common disorder affecting 1 in 4 women. With her team Prof Gargett has developed several sheep models of POP and vaginal birth injury to evaluate these new tissue engineering constructs and works toward translating the team’s findings into the clinic.

With a strong record of research excellence and discovery, Professor Gargett has secured funding from the US Department of Defense (AUD3M, 2019-2022) and NHMRC funding since 2004, including 7 CIA grants, an RD Wright CDA (2007-11), Senior Research (2013-18) and Investigator (2020-2024) Fellowships. Prof Gargett  also secured SIEF funding for a prestigious John Stocker Postdoctoral Fellowship (for Dr Shayanti Mukherjee), and funding from the CASS Foundation, MIME, Australian Stem Cell Centre, Cancer Council Victoria, Therapeutic Innovations Australia, RANZCOG, Monash IVF Research Foundation and other philanthropic sources.

Prof Gargett is recipient of numerous national and international awards including the Society for Gynecological Investigation President’s Achievement Award (2013), the Endometriosis Foundation of America (2011), European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology Established Scientist Award (2005), and the Society for Reproductive Biology’s RCRH Award for research excellence (2011). Professor Gargett’s research featured in the NHMRC’s 10 of the Best Research Projects in 2008 and 10 years later in 3 video clips on the NHMRC front webpage. Prof Gargett has received widespread publicity in Australia and internationally and is frequently invited to give presentations at international conferences.

Professor Gargett is a Director of the National Stem Cell Foundation of Australia (since 2015) and Stem Cells Ltd (since 2019), and a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Centre for Commercialisation of Regenerative Medicine Australia node (since 2018). Prof Gargett is a member of the Scientific Committee of the Fondation Pour La Recherche sur L’Endometriose, France. Editorial board positions held are for Scientific Reports, Biology of Reproduction, Reproductive Sciences (2009-2019) and Fertility and Sterility (2011-14). Associate Editor roles have been for Reproductive Sciences (2015-2020) and Human Reproduction (2005-8). Prof Gargett was President of the Australasian Society for Stem Cell Research (2013-2014) and led the successful bid hosting the International Society for Stem Cell Research Annual meeting in Melbourne in 2018. Prof Gargett has served as Secretary for the Society for Reproductive Biology (2005-7) and is currently on the International Urogynecology Association Basic Science SIG Steering Committee.

In ABC’s Babytalk podcast, Professor Caroline Gargett National talks about the damage that can occur during childbirth, the options women have and the opportunities for new treatments.

In this explainer in The Conversation, Professor Caroline Gargett and her team write about why it takes so long for endometriosis to be diagnosed.

Selected publications

• Masuda H, Schwab KE, Filby CE, Tan CSC, Tsaltas J, Weston GC, Gargett CE (2021) Endometrial stem/progenitor cells in menstrual blood and peritoneal fluid of women with and without endometriosis. Reproductive BioMedicine Online 43:3-13. 2 citations

• Lucciola R, Vrljicak P, Gurung S, Filby C, Darzi S, Muter J, Ott S, Brosens JJ, Gargett CE (2020) Impact of sustained transforming growth factor-β receptor inhibition on chromatin accessibility and gene expression in cultured human endometrial MSC. Front Cell Dev Biol 8:567610. 5 citations

• Emmerson S, Mukherjee S, Melendez J, Cousins F, Edwards SL, Karkalainen P, Ng M, Tan, KS, Darzi S, Bhakoo K, Rosamilia A, Werkmeister JA, Gargett CE. (2019) Composite mesh design for delivery of autologous mesenchymal stem cells influences mesh integration, exposure and biocompatibility in an ovine model of pelvic organ prolapse. Biomaterials 225: 119495. (IF 10.273; 21 citations)

• Mukherjee S, Darzi S, Rosamilia A, Kadam V, Truong Y, Werkmeister JA, Gargett CE (2019) Blended nanostructured degradable mesh with Endometrial Stem Cells promote Tissue and anti-inflammatory response in vivo for pelvic floor application. Biomacromolecules 20: 454-468. (22 citations)

• Nguyen H, Xiao L, Deane JA, Tan KS, Cousins FL, Masuda H, Sprung CM, Rosamilia A, Gargett CE (2017) N-cadherin identifies human endometrial epithelial progenitor cells by in vitro stem cell assays. Human Reproduction 32:2254-2268. (<55 citations)

• Gargett CE, Schwab KE, Deane JA (2016) Endometrial Stem/progenitor cells: the first 10 years. Human Reproduction Update 22:137-163 (IF11.194; >345 citations)

• Ulrich D, Edwards SL, Su C, Tan KS, White JF, Ramshaw JAM, Lo C, Rosamilia A, Werkmeister JA. Gargett CE (2014) Human endometrial mesenchymal stem cells modulate the tissue response and mechanical behavior of polyamide mesh implants for pelvic organ prolapse repair. Tissue Engineering Part A 20:785-798 Featured on the Front Cover 14.39 Oct 7, 2013 (>105 citations)

• Masuda H, Anwar S, Bühring HJ, Rao J, Gargett CE (2012) A novel marker of human endometrial mesenchymal stem-like cells. Cell Transplantation 21: 2201-2214 (>230 citations)

• Gargett CE, Schwab KE, Zillwood RM, Nguyen HPT, Wu D (2009) Isolation and culture of epithelial progenitors and mesenchymal stem cells from human endometrium. Biology of Reproduction 80: 1136-45. (>530 citations)

• Schwab KE, Gargett CE (2007) Co-expression of two perivascular cell markers isolates mesenchymal stem-like cells from human endometrium. Human Reproduction 22: 2903-2911 (>550 citations)

• Chan RWS, Schwab KE and Gargett CE (2004) Clonogenicity of human endometrial epithelial and stromal cells. Biology of Reproduction 70:1738-1750 (> 720 citations)