Lucy Whitaker (BSc (Hons) MB ChB MSc MD MRCOG)

Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist

  • Centre for Reproductive Health
  • Institute for Regeneration and Repair

Contact details

Address

Street

Centre for Reproductive Health,
Institute for Regeneration and Repair
Edinburgh BioQuarter
4-5 Little France Drive
Edinburgh

City
Post code
EH16 4UU

Background

Lucy Whitaker graduated from the University of Edinburgh and after two years in Christchurch Women’s Hospital in New Zealand, did her obstetric and gynaecology training in Edinburgh and South East Scotland. Alongside this she completed an MSc in Surgical Sciences then an MD. After obtaining a Scotland wide competitive entry advanced training post in endometriosis and minimal access surgery, she spent the final four years of her postgraduate training in Edinburgh as part of the EXPPECT nationally recognised BSGE Endometriosis Centre. 

She is now a Senior Clinical Research Fellow and Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, combining clinical care for endometriosis with a research portfolio focusing on clinical trials and precision treatment for endometriosis-associated pain. 

Qualifications

BSc (Hons) Mircobiology and Infection University of Edinburgh 2004

MB ChB University of Edinburgh 2007

MSc Surgical Sciences University of Edinburgh 2013

MD University of Edinburgh 2017

MRCOG Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2014

Responsibilities & affiliations

EXPPECT lead for Clinical Studies

World Endometriosis Society Early Career Ambassador and current Chair of WES Early Career Board

Chief Scientist Office Translational Clinical Studies Research Committee

Research summary

My research has focused on management of chronic debilitating conditions across the reproductive life-course, including chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis and abnormal uterine bleeding.

Pelvic pain is responsible for a third of all unscheduled admissions to gynaecology. Many of these patients have underlying endometriosis, a chronic neuroinflammatory pain condition affecting ~190 million women worldwide, a similar prevalence to diabetes in women. As well as resulting in high use of unscheduled care resources, pelvic pain ‘flares’ contribute to decreased physical and mental health and reduced work and education participation. Endometriosis is poorly managed and costs the UK £12.5 billion every year in socioeconomic costs.

My research theme is focused on translational research towards precision treatments for pelvic pain. It encompasses the investigation of new diagnostic approaches, potential for patient stratification and prediction of treatment response using clinical/biological data profiles from women with endometriosis and a programme of drug repurposing and surgical trials to produce rapid change in national clinical guidelines and improvement in patient's symptoms and quality of life.

Current project grants

• 2024-2025 MRC IAA
Total body PET-CT for the diagnosis of endometriosis
L Whitaker (Chief Investigator), D Newby, A Horne, M Williams
• 2023-2026 Chief Scientist Office Translational Clinical Studies Grant
ENDOCAN-1: a pilot randomised controlled trial of the efficacy of a cannabinoid oral tincture in the management of endometriosis-associated pain (TCS/22/28).
L Whitaker (Chief Investigator), A Horne, J Daniels, L Saraswat, S Lewis, H Durand, A Neilson and E Cox
• 2023-2026 Wellbeing of Women Project Grant
A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled feasibility trial to evaluate dichloroacetate in the management of endometriosis-associated pain (EPiC2; RG2415)
L Whitaker (Chief Investigator), A Horne, J Daniels, L Saraswat, MC Jones and C Graham
• 2023-2024 Academy of Medical Sciences Starter Grant
Improving understanding of endometriosis pain flares to support patients with self-management and prevention (EndoFLARE): a feasibility study (SGL028\1025)
L Whitaker
• 2021-2026 National Institute for Health Research HTA
ESPriT2: A multi-centre randomised controlled trial to determine the effectiveness of laparoscopic treatment of isolated superficial peritoneal endometriosis for the management of chronic pelvic pain in women (NIHR129801)
L Whitaker (co-Chief Investigator), A Horne, (co-Chief Investigator), J Norrie, J Stephen, J Daniels, K Cooper, J Clark, J Thornton, Y Cheong, A Maheshwari, C Becker, K Vincent, L Jackson, E Cox, L Hummelshoj
• 2021-2024 Roche Diagnostics
ENVISION: ENdometroisis biomarker VerIfication Sample collectiON.

Past project grants

• 2019-2023 Chief Scientist Office Clinical Lectureship
Precision treatment and drug repurposing to reduce endometriosis-associated pain in women
Clinical lectureship national appointment following competitive interview. 50:50 Academic: clinical post.
• 2017-2019 Barbour Watson Fund
Mechanism of action of selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) on the human endometrium and utility for management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB): impact of SPRM administration on endometrial proteonomics
• 2016-2018 Barbour Watson Fund
Mechanism of action of selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) on the human endometrium and utility for management of heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB): impact of SPRM on gene expression.