Kirstin Tindal

I had a fabulous lecturer during my Graduate Diploma in Reproductive Health through Monash University and knew that I wanted to pursue a PhD through Monash that had real-world applications. Hudson Institute is closely aligned with Monash Health, meaning that research has the potential to be translated clinically too. My passion for stillbirth research lead me to my research project as part of an exciting collaboration between incredible supervisors spanning the Endometrial Stem Cell Biology group and epidemiology and clinical trials.

Stillbirth is a tragedy that affects approximately six families per day in Australia and the majority occur in the preterm period (under 37 weeks gestation). The underlying causes of stillbirth are not well understood, as a result these statistics have remained stagnant for decades. My research investigates the causes of preterm stillbirth and how adverse pregnancy outcomes might be associated with other aspects of reproductive health, such as gynaecological disorders and menstrual abnormalities. It is my hope that my research will help to contribute to a reduction of stillbirths in Australia and a better understanding of women's reproductive health overall.

Being at Hudson Institute is like being part of a big family. The culture is very inclusive and especially during COVID, has been incredibly supportive and flexible. There is always a lot going on, from weekly seminars and presentations to student events to spirited viewings of the Olympics and other sporting events in the lunch break room.

I've had the pleasure of being involved with the Hudson Institute Student Society (HISS) as the 2021 co-secretary, helping to organise student events and the Institute student retreat. I have attended multiple conferences and had the opportunity to network and collaborate with leading stillbirth researchers across Australia.