Dr Roisin Griffin

OVERVIEW
I am a Postdoctoral Research Fellow working within the HMRI Infertility and Reproduction Research Program. My research centres on improving the fertility of equine and livestock species, to ultimately improve the welfare of breeding animals. My primary research focus is to investigate the effects of endogenous and exogenous stressors on DNA damage in the stallion germ line. 

BACKGROUND
I began my academic journey with a BSc in Equine Science at the University of Limerick (UL), Ireland. As part of this degree, I completed a Final Year Project (FYP) comparing the growth rates of Irish and American-born Thoroughbred foals, with a particular emphasis on modelling their growth based on age. This research not only garnered recognition internally (winning the Coolmore Silver Medal for best FYP presentation), but also earned me the honour of representing UL at the prestigious Eqvalan Duo Thesis of the Year competition (held at the Royal Agricultural Society of England), for which I was a finalist.

Eager to further develop my research expertise, I pursued an MSc degree by research, focused in the area of equine nutrition. Building upon the foundations laid during my FYP, I extended my work into modelling the growth of Irish Thoroughbred foals based on their nutritional intakes. This research ultimately led me to accept a PhD position at UON, changing my research focus into the realm of reproduction. Under the supervision of Dr Zamira Gibb and Distinguished Emeritus Professor John Aitken, my doctoral project centred on unravelling the molecular mechanisms that underpin stallion fertility, and investigating the impact of exogenous factors on fertility and DNA integrity. During this time, I undertook several fieldwork periods, both in Australia and abroad, working closely with the Thoroughbred breeding industry. 

RESEARCH ESTEEM
Throughout my PhD I focused on producing data that is of interest to funding agencies and salient to the industry end-users. In testament to this, my research findings into the effect of ambient climatic conditions on stallion fertility underpinned two successful research grant applications, totalling over $500,000 (Australian Research Council and Agrifutures Australia).

To date, I have presented my findings at 14 conferences, including four international events. Notably, I was selected as a finalist in the ART Lab Solutions Gamete and Embryo Award at the Society for Reproductive Biology (SRB) conference, 2020, and a finalist in the Student Competition at the Association of Applied Animal Andrology (AAAA) conference, also in 2020. My most significant achievement to date occurred during the quadrennial meeting of the International Symposium on Equine Reproduction (ISER), where I was awarded the prestigious Michelle LeBlanc Award. 

RESEARCH EXPERTISE AND CURRENT RESEARCH AREAS
My research expertise spans various facets of equine science and reproductive biology. My work is characterized by its translational nature, with findings that can be readily implemented by industry users and individuals on the ground. My primary research areas include:

• Determining the impact of endogenous and exogenous stressors on sperm DNA integrity.
• Determining the most vulnerable genomic loci for sperm DNA damage and assessing how this may compromise the offspring genome.
• Understanding the impact of ambient heat stress on fertility, germ cell quality and horse welfare.
• Developing diagnostic tools and strategies to increase reproductive performance and improve breeding outcomes.

My research is firmly anchored in addressing the critical needs of the equine industry, with the overarching goal of enhancing breeding practices for the betterment of horse welfare.

TEACHING, SUPERVISION AND MENTORSHIP
In addition to my research endeavours, I actively engage in teaching and mentorship roles to contribute to the development of future scientists. I have lectured several modules within the Biotechnology and Biology undergraduate programs. I have the privilege of serving as a supervisor for an MSc student and mentoring two honours students—one of whom received the prestigious President's Medal. Additionally, I have co-supervised several summer scholarship and placement students to completion.

Overall, my aspiration is to continue making impactful strides in equine science, shaping the future of equine genetics, reproduction, and welfare through my research, teaching, and mentorship roles. I am committed to advancing knowledge and practices in the field and contributing to the wellbeing of horses, and the equine industry as a whole.