Meet our 2026 scholar In September 2026 another talented scholar joined the Institute for Regeneration and Repair to undertake their PhD studies as part of the Martin Lee Doctoral Scholarship programme. Martin Lee Scholars are trained and mentored by world-renowned experts in stem cell research, regenerative medicine, inflammation research, reproductive health and tissue repair. Zoe Grant Zoe is from Dublin, Ireland, and graduated from Dublin City University with a First-Class Honours BSc in Analytical Science. She then moved to London, where she obtained an MSc with Distinction in Reproductive Science and Women's Health from UCL. Her master's dissertation investigated genetic and hormonal associations between premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) and breast cancer. Following her Master's, Zoe worked as a scientific research associate in London, contributing to research and clinical science by assessing the efficacy of at-home blood testing for endocrine analysis and validating reproductive biomarker diagnostics.As a Martin Lee Doctoral Scholar Zoe will study targeting of macrophages to protect fertility after chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is very effective in treating cancer but damages the gonads, placing young men and women at risk of infertility and long-term endocrine dysfunction. Zoe Grant Zoe’s PhD research project will investigate how gonadal macrophages regulate damage and recovery following chemotherapy. Zoe will focus on defining macrophage origins, phenotypes and roles in maintaining fertility. Through uncovering immune mechanisms that support tissue repair, this work aims to identify novel, macrophage-based strategies to preserve fertility and improve quality of life for cancer survivors.Zoe will perform her studies in the research groups of Dr Roseanne Rosario (primary supervisor), Dr Elaine Emmerson (co-supervisor) and Prof Rod Mitchell (co-supervisor). Receiving the Martin Lee Doctoral Scholarship has enabled me to take the next step in my research career, an opportunity that would not have been possible without this funding. Pursuing a PhD in reproductive health has been a long-held ambition of mine, and I am incredibly honoured to join the IRR. I am so grateful for the opportunity to conduct my research in a world-class facility alongside leading experts and inspiring peers. Zoe Grant Martin Lee Doctoral Scholar Publications Getreu, N., Grant, Z., Vasavan, T., Timpson, A., Woolley, T., & O'Neill, H. C. (2026). Analytical comparability of thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine across capillary and venous collection matrices for remote thyroid diagnostics. Journal of Patient Centricity, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.57264/jpc-2026-0005 This article was published on Tuesday 9 December 2025
