Professor Alistair Williams
Professor of Gynaecological Pathology
The University of Edinburgh
Queen's Medical Research Institute
Edinburgh BioQuarter
47 Little France Crescent
Edinburgh EH16 4TJ
Current Research
My research efforts have long been focused on reproductive pathophysiology, and I have published on a range of topics related to reproductive function, mostly in contraception, management of uterine fibroids, and other benign and malignant gynaecological diseases. My major focus is now on the effects of selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) on endometrium. I am a member of a very productive clinical and basic science research team led by my colleague Professor Hilary Critchley, conducting research into various aspects of endometrial pathophysiology and mechanisms of abnormal uterine bleeding. I have long experience of participation as a pathologist in a range of clinical trials, and I am involved in pathological assessments of endometrial biopsies in Phase III studies of several SPRMs sponsored by Bayer, Gedeon Richter and Preglem.
Collaborators
- Prof Hilary Critchley, University of Edinburgh
- Prof G Mutter, Boston
- Dr C Bergeron, Paris
Web Links
Selected Publications
Whitaker LHR, Williams ARW, Critchley HOD. Selective progesterone receptor modulators. Curr Opin Obstet Gynecol. 2014 Aug; 26(4):237-42. PMID: 24950125
Williams, A.R.W., Bergeron, C., Barlow, D.H., Ferenczy, A., 2012. Endometrial morphology after treatment of uterine fibroids with the selective progesterone receptor modulator, ulipristal acetate. Int J Gynecol Pathol. 2012 Nov;31(6):556-69. PMID: 23018219
Mutter, GL, Bergeron, C, Deligdisch, L, Ferenczy, A, Glant, M, Merino, M, Williams, ARW, Blithe, D (2008). The spectrum of endometrial pathology induced by progesterone receptor modulators. Mod Pathol. 2008 May; 21(5):591-8. PMID: 18246050
Kannan, A., Bhurke, A., Sitruk-Ware, R., Lalitkumar, P.G., Gemzell-Danielsson, K., Williams, A.R.W., Taylor, R.N., Bagchi, M.K., Bagchi, I.C., 2017. Characterization of Molecular Changes in Endometrium Associated With Chronic Use of Progesterone Receptor Modulators: Ulipristal Acetate Versus Mifepristone. Reprod Sci 1933719117746764. https://doi.org/10.1177/1933719117746764
Sanderson, P.A., Critchley, H.O.D., Williams, A.R.W., Arends, M.J., Saunders, P.T.K., 2016. New concepts for an old problem: the diagnosis of endometrial hyperplasia. Human Reproduction Update. doi:10.1093/humupd/dmw042
Williams ARW. Uterine fibroids – what’s new? [version 1; referees: 3 approved]. F1000Research 2017, 6(F1000 Faculty Rev):2109 (doi: 10.12688/f1000research.12172.1)
Dinh, A., Sriprasert, I., Williams, A.R., Archer, D.F., A Review of the Endometrial Histologic Effects of Progestins and Progesterone Receptor Modulators in Reproductive Age Women. Contraception. doi:10.1016/j.Contraception.2015.01.008