Dr Ellen Menkhorst is a Senior Research Fellow in Reproductive Biology and Deputy Head of the Embryo Implantation Group in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Newborn Health, at the University of Melbourne and Royal Women’s Hospital. Her research is dedicated to improving pregnancy outcomes by understanding the mechanisms of placental formation during early pregnancy. She aims improve outcomes for pregnancies with complications such as recurrent miscarriage, preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction by developing novel biomarkers to predict risk and new therapeutic interventions to improve placental function. Ellen is currently supported by an NHMRC Ideas grant and has previously held fellowships with NHMRC and the Lalor Foundation. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of scientists and is currently supervising 5 PhD students. In addition to her research, Dr. Menkhorst serves as an Editorial Board member for Reproduction, Fertility and Development and Molecular Human Reproduction and will join the Society for Reproductive Biology Council at the conclusion of this meeting.