Researchers Kathleen Duffin, Emma Kearney, and Emily Walshe have been awarded an early career researcher grant for fertility preservation in young people with cancer. The Nigel and Val Shepherd Memorial Awards are research grants established in memory of Nigel Shepherd, who, alongside his wife Val, received medical care in Edinburgh during their attempts to start a family in the early 1990s. Although their journey was ultimately unsuccessful, they were deeply appreciative of the support they received from the Edinburgh clinical team. In recognition of this, and to contribute to the ongoing work in infertility, Nigel generously left a legacy of £5,000 to the CRH. This legacy has funded two grants aimed specifically at early career researchers working in the vital and evolving field of fertility preservation for young people diagnosed with cancer. Two projects were awarded the grant for research that has the potential to make a significant impact in fertility preservation for young people diagnosed with cancer. Kathleen and Emma Kathleen Duffin and Emma Kearney were awarded £2500 for their project: Chemoprotection to preserve reproductive potential and cancer treatment efficacy in prepubertal boys. The overall aim of our research is to improve long-term fertility outcomes for childhood cancer survivors, andthe Nigel and Val Shepherd Memorial Award will allow us to design strategies to investigate drugs to protect fertility in boys undergoing cancer treatment, allowing the possibility of future biological parenthood. Kathleen Duffin and Emma Kearney Emily Emily Walshe was awarded £2500 for her project: Protecting the human pre-pubertal ovary from the fertility damaging effects of chemotherapy. I’m honoured to have received funding from the Nigel and Val Shepherd memorial award - this will allow me to expand my PhD research to utilise biobanked tissue from prepubescent girls, ultimately generating crucial data in fertility preservation options for young girls who undergo chemotherapy. Emily Walshe These high-quality applications provide an exciting opportunity to advance research in fertility preservation and make a tangible difference in the lives of young cancer patients. Tags CRH Publication date 21 May, 2025
