DoctorRachael Wood

My research focuses on endometriosis and examining the changes that occur in the tissue that allow it to invade. We are working with numerous cell lines and primary tissue to model the invasion of endometriosis, and trying to understand the underlying mechanisms for its invasion. All this research has been informed by patient and clinician priorities for the care of endometriosis and I believe in patient focused research to ensure that the solutions we dream up will fix the problem and be accepted by the end-user.

I also conduct research into Spinal Cord Injury and the cellular changes that occur during traumatic brain injuries. My work looks at utilising the body's own cells to reconnect the damaged neurons in the spinal cord aided by biodegradable microdevices.

My research is interdisciplinary and I have collaborations with Mechanical and Electrical Engineering as well as in the School of Biological Sciences which is supported through my membership in the Biomolecular Interaction Centre (BIC) here at UC. Further afield I work with engineers, scientists and doctors at Auckland University, University of Otago, as well as universities in Australia, the US and the UK.