Dr Debbie Nash

PhD, PGCtHE, Senior Fellow of Higher Education Academy, Registered Animal Scientist, Fellow of Royal Society for Biology

I gained my Ph.D. at The Royal Veterinary College, University of London in 2007. My research developed in vivo and in vitro models to enhance the study of the innate immune response to breeding-induced endometritis in mares which is a significant cause of infertility. During this time I gained a range of laboratory skills and was involved in four animal trials including taking sole lead of one. Consequently I am a personal Home Office licence holder and am competent in a range of reproductive and clinical procedures such as ultrasound of the reproductive tract, blood sampling and uterine biopsy.

I joined Aberystwyth University as a Lecturer in Equine and Animal Science in 2007 and have since become a senior lecturer. I teach a diverse range of topics including nutrition and exercise physiology but I specialise in reproductive physiology and practice. I teach our BSc, BVsci  and masters students. I am also the scheme coordinator for BSc Equine and Veterinary Biosciences and the Deputy Director for Learning and Teaching for the Department of Life Sciences.

I maintain an active research profile that focusses on developing and utilising ex vivo models of uterine inflammation as screening tests for novel anti-inflammatory treatments for uterine disease in cattle, horses, and pigs. I am PI for several current projects in collaboration with industry partners who bring novel plant-derived compounds for testing in our ex vivo culture system, intended as the first stage of drug discovery and development. Parallel to these projects I supervise MSc, MRes and PhD students in projects in this field. 

I hold a PGCtHE teaching qualification, and I was the second person at Aberystwyth University to be awarded Senior Fellow status of the Higher Education Academy. In 2021 I was invited to become a Fellow of the Royal Society for Biology.