Collaborative Artwork Between Newcastle-Based Artist and UON Researcher Unveiled at HMRI

BY OLIVIA DILLON

A Newcastle-based artist and reproduction expert have collaborated to produce a new piece of art unveiled at the Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) overnight.

This year's HMRI Art Series is the product of a collaboration between Researcher of the Year, Professor Brett Nixon and visual artist, Mitch Revs. 

The University of Newcastle's Professor Nixon is a member of the HMRI Pregnancy and Reproduction team, and his research focuses on genetic and environmental factors which impact the quality of sperm. 

At the HMRI Community Seminar last night, Professor Nixon said seeing his work come to life brought tears to his eyes. 

"I've devoted my life to this research field, not for the accolades but more to try and improve the outcomes for people that are suffering from infertility," he said.  

"I'm very touched by what Mitch has brought out of our research. He's a genuine artist."

The one-off artwork titled "Seedling" aims to shed a light on the crucial need for more researchers in the fields of infertility and reproduction, and showcase the significant fertility research being run out of laboratories in the Hunter. 

Mitch Revs was specially chosen to produce the artwork for this year's Series, and said he couldn't be more grateful for the opportunity to be a part of a worthy cause. 

"My biggest fear was not being able to reflect him (Brett) how he needs to be reflected; I felt a lot of pressure around the objective because I wanted to do a good job," Mitch said. 

"To have my work displayed at HMRI is a massive honour and achievement for me; it's one of those boxes everyone wants to tick." 

"Hopefully we can raise some much needed funds when we auction the artwork in a few weeks." 

"Seedling" will be auctioned at the HMRI Ball on Saturday June 17th. 

The money raised from the auction will go towards funding more vital research projects in the Hunter. 

Image: Mitch Revs

Image: Michelle Lawson

University of Newcastle researchers discover secret to decline in male fertility

BY DAKOTA TAIT

University of Newcastle researchers believe they might have figured out the reason why male fertility has plummeted over the past 50 years.

A new study has found environmental stressors, such as radio frequency energy and PFAS contamination, could affect men and their fertility. 

 

These sorts of stressors were originally not thought to be able to effect DNA, but could disrupt sperm through their RNA, and even prove lethal to embryos.

Dr Geoffry De Iuliis, Dr Shaun Roman, Professor Brett Nixon and lead author and PhD candidate Natalie Trigg made the discovery using a chemical called acrylamide as a stressor on sperm in the lab. 

The range of possible environmental stressors isn't yet known, but could be wide and even common.

Dr De Iuliis says the revelations are a game-changer for how we think about conception. 

"These more subtle environmental exposures, while not directly disrupting the DNA, can modify these RNA species, which we now understand are really important in directing that early embryo development process, so it certainly does have implications for fertility," Dr De Iuliis said. 

"Because we understand much of the mechanisms now, how the RNA species are affected, we might be able to manipulate this prior to IVF."

"So we understand what a good RNA profile is, in a sperm, and we might be able to modify that, which if you follow the logic through, would mean improving the quality of embryo development."

It's now suspected this process could be a critical factor in explaining why sperm fertility has declined over the last half-century. 

Dr De Iuliis says understanding this phenomenon also opens the door to new approaches to treatment.

"The big take home message I think from this is that it puts more emphasis on men's health immediately prior to conception," Dr De Iuliis said.

"The next part of this work will be to looking at educating people on this, particularly men, and they may have to take more responsibility in terms of their personal health."