Margot Day

Associate Professor Margot Day is a prominent researcher in the School of Medical Sciences at the University of Sydney, specializing in Physiology. She holds affiliations with the Bosch Institute, the University of Sydney Nano Institute, and the Charles Perkins Centre, focusing on Reproductive, Maternal and Child Health and Lifespan research themes.

Her research centers on cellular and molecular mechanisms of embryonic development, with particular expertise in oocyte maturation, preimplantation embryo development, and implantation biology. Professor Day's work explores how amino acids, particularly proline and its analogues, influence embryonic development through various signaling pathways including mTOR and growth factor receptors. She investigates redox regulation, oxidative stress, and nutrient sensing in mammalian embryos, using both in vivo and in vitro models.

Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong focus on amino acid metabolism in embryonic development, with particular emphasis on proline's role in stem cell differentiation and embryo maturation. Her work spans multiple model systems including mouse, bovine, and rat, addressing fundamental questions in reproductive biology with potential applications in assisted reproductive technologies.

Professor Day has successfully supervised research students including Kate CAREY, who is working on 'Production of mature oocytes from bovine ovarian tissue in vitro.' She has secured multiple competitive grants from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), Australian Research Council (ARC), and University of Sydney to support her research on embryo development, ion transport systems, and circadian rhythms in early embryogenesis.

Her laboratory work integrates cellular signaling approaches with molecular physiology to understand the fundamental mechanisms governing early embryonic development and implantation. Professor Day collaborates extensively within the University of Sydney and with international researchers to advance knowledge in reproductive biology and embryology.