Shavi Fernando

Dr. Shavi Fernando is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at Monash University, affiliated with Monash Health. Her academic and clinical work spans reproductive medicine, prenatal genetics, and medical education, with a focus on cell-free DNA screening and interprofessional simulation training.

Research Interests: Her primary research areas include prenatal genetics, assisted reproductive technology, maternal-fetal medicine, and innovative teaching methods in women's health. She investigates cell-free DNA screening for rare chromosomal abnormalities, melatonin's role in infertility treatment, and simulation-based training for managing obstetric emergencies such as postpartum haemorrhage.

Publication Trends: Her recent publications (2022–2024) show a strong emphasis on systematic reviews and clinical studies in prenatal screening, particularly on false positives, segmental copy number variants, and rare trisomies. She also contributes to medical education literature with blended simulation models (WHIPLS) for interprofessional learning.

• Scientific Awards:
• FRANZCOG VRC Award (2014)
• FRANZCOG VRC Research Award (2017)
• Geoffrey Driscoll Medal (2017)
• Midwifery and medical students’ simulation prize (2017)
• File Young Scientist Award (2023)

Advising and Grants: Dr. Fernando has served as a Primary Chief Investigator on multiple research grants, including a trial on melatonin and ART outcomes funded by RANZCOG. She is currently a Chief Investigator on active projects such as 3D Bioprinted Strategies for Female Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery and Prenatal cell-free DNA screening for rare chromosome abnormalities.

Labs and Teams: She collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across Monash University, Monash Health, Monash IVF Group, and RANZCOG. Her research integrates clinical obstetrics, reproductive biology, and biomedical engineering, particularly in bioprinting and simulation technologies.