Professor Roger Sturmey

Professor Roger Sturmey, is a distinguished academic leader in reproductive health and biomedical research, currently serving as Head of the Centre for Biomedicine at Hull York Medical School. Internationally recognised for his pioneering work on early embryo metabolism, IVF outcomes, and the developmental origins of disease, he has authored over 70 peer-reviewed publications and delivered more than 80 invited lectures at major scientific and policy forums.

Professor Sturmey is a passionate educator, teaching reproductive physiology to undergraduate medical and biomedical students, alongside core biomedical subjects such as pharmacology, biochemistry, and cell biology. He has supervised over 20 postgraduate students, including PhD candidates, several of whom now lead independent research teams, reflecting his commitment to mentorship and academic development.

His leadership extends across institutional and national platforms. He chaired the Guideline Working Group for the Governance of Stem Cell-Based Embryo Models, contributing to national policy frameworks and engaging with regulatory bodies including the HFEA and WHO. He has held senior roles within ESHRE and AETE, and currently chairs the Scientific Advisory Panel of the UK Association of Clinical Embryologists.

With over £2 million in competitive research funding secured, Professor Sturmey combines strategic vision with ethical integrity, driving interdisciplinary research that informs both clinical practice and public policy. He is a regular contributor to national media and public engagement initiatives, known for translating complex science into accessible insights. His work bridges science, education, and governance, shaping the future of reproductive research and its societal impact.

Roger is interested in the metabolism of the oocyte and early embryo and how this relates to onward development. He is especially focussed on the interaction between energy metabolism and epigenetic adaptations during early development. Moreover he works on how the environment in which the early embryo completes its development can modify critical events in ways that might alter onward development and ultimately affect the lifelong health of offspring. To study the periconceptual environment, he has developed cell-based models of the oviduct (Fallopian tube) and is now pursuing research into how the external conditions (maternal health, environmental contaminants) affect early development. He uses numerous techniques to study metabolism at the single cell-level and has applied these approaches to other cell types, notably blood platelets.

Beyond this, Roger is passionate about effective governance of reproductive research and is involved in several national projects relating to the regulation of embryo research and the responsible use of Stem Cell-Based Embryo Models.

Roger teaches throughout Phase 1 of the HYMS MBBS, covering topics in early development and reproductive health, as well as offering a Scholarship and Special Interest Project (SSIP) on Infertility. In addition, he teaches a number of components of the BSc in Biomedical Sciences, covering areas of cellular metabolism and early development. Furthermore, he teaches on the HYMS MSc in Pharmacology and Drug Development, leading a new module on Bioanalytical Techniques. Away from Hull, he is a guest teacher on the NHS STP Training programme for Clinical Embryologists.

For an up to date list of publications link to Google Scholar: http://tinyurl.com/ottgdzw or view Roger's publications on Worktribe.

Pennok R, Bray E, Pryor P, McKeegan P, Sturmey RG, Genever P.  Human cell dedifferentiation in mesenchymal condensates through controlled autophagy.  Scientific Reports, dos 10.1038/srep13113

Leary C, Leese HJ, Sturmey RG.  2015 Human embryos from overweight and obese women display phenotypic and metabolic abnormalities. Human Reproduction, 30(1):122-32

Forde N, Simintiras CA, Sturmey RG, Mamo S, Kelly AK, Spencer TE, Bazer FW, Lonergan P Amino acids in the uterine luminal fluid reflects temporal changes in transporter expression in the endometrium and conceptus during early pregnancy in cattle PLoS One  2014 Jun 24;9(6):e100010

Brison DR, Sturmey RG, Leese HJ.  Metabolic heterogeneity during perimplantation development: the missing link?  Human Reproduction Update.  In press

Leroy JLMR, Sturmey RG, Van Hoeck V, De Bie J, McKeegan P, Bols PEJ.  Dietary fat supplementation and the consequences for oocyte and embryo quality: hype or significant benefit for dairy cow reproduction? Reproduction in Domestic Animals.  Accepted

Leroy JLMR, Sturmey RG, Van Hoeck V, McKeegan P, Bols PEJ.   The effect of dietary fat on oocyte and embryo viability: a real benefit for cow reproduction?  Animal Reproduction.  Accepted

Guerif F, McKeegan PJ, Leese HJ & Sturmey RG. 2013 A simple approach for consumption and release (CORE) analysis of metabolic activity in single mammalian embryos.  PLoS One. 2013;8(8):e67834. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0067834

Smith DG, Sturmey RG.  2013.  Parallels between embryo and cancer cell metabolism. Biochemical Society Transactions, 41(2):664-669

Forsey KE, Ellis PJ, Sargent CA, Sturmey RG, Leese HJ. 2013.  Expression and localization of creatine kinase in the preimplantation embryo.  Molecular Reproduction & Development, 80(3):185-92

Van Hoeck V, Leroy JL, Arias-Alvarez M, Rizos D, Gutierrez-Adan A, Schnorbusch K, Bols P, Leese H, Sturmey RG.  2013.  Oocyte developmental failure in response to elevated non-esterified fatty acid concentrations: mechanistic insights. Reproduction, 145(1):33-44

Huntriss, JD, Hemmings K, Hinkins M, Rutherford A, Sturmey RG, Elder K, Picton H.  2013. Variable Imprinting of the MEST Gene in Human Preimplantation Embryos.  European Journal of Human Genetics, 21(1):40-47

McKeegan PJ, Sturmey RG. 2011.  The role of fatty acids in oocyte and early embryo development.  Reprod Fertil Dev. 2011 24(1):59-67.

Leroy JL, Rizos D, Sturmey RG, Bossaert P, Gutierrez-Adan A, Van Hoeck V, Valckx S, Bols PE.  2011.  Intrafollicular conditions as a major link between maternal metabolism and oocyte quality: a focus on dairy cow fertility.  Reprod Fertil Dev. 2011 24(1):1-12

Van Hoeck V, Sturmey RG, Bermejo-Alvarez P, Rizos D, Gutierrez-Adan A, Leese HJ, Bols PE, Leroy JL.  2011.  Elevated non-esterified fatty acid concentrations during bovine oocyte maturation compromise early embryo physiology.  PLoS One. 6(8):e23183. Epub 2011 Aug 17.

Foster HA, Sturmey RG, Stokes PJ, Leese HJ, Bridger JM, Griffin DK. 2010.  Fluorescence in situ hybridization on early porcine embryos.  Methods Mol Biol. 659:427-36.

Sturmey RG, Bermejo-Alvarez P, Gutierrez-Adan A, Rizos D, Leese HJ & Lonergan P.  2010.  Amino acid metabolism of bovine blastocysts: a biomarker of sex and viability.  Molecular Reproduction and Development 77: 285-96

Sturmey RG, Reis A, Leese HJ, McEvoy TG.  2009.  Role of fatty acids in energy provision during oocyte maturation and early embryo development.  Reproduction in Domestic Animals 44:50-8 

Sturmey RG, Wild CP and Hardie, LJ.  2009.  Removal of red light minimises methylene blue stimulated DNA damage in oesophageal cells; implications for chromoendoscopy.  Mutagenesis 24:253-58

Sturmey RG, Hawkhead JA, Barker EA, Leese HJ.  2009.  DNA damage and metabolic activity in the preimplantation embryo. Hum Reprod. 24(1):81-91.

Leese HJ, Baumann CG, Brison DR, McEvoy TG, Sturmey RG.  2008.  Metabolism of the viable mammalian embryo: quietness revisited. Mol Hum Reprod. 14(12):667-72.

Sturmey RG, Brison DR, Leese HJ.  2008.  Assessing embryo viability by measurement of amino acid turnover.  Reprod Biomed Online. 17(4):486-96.

Leese HJ, Hugentobler SA, Gray SM, Morris DG, Sturmey RG, Whitear SL, Sreenan JM.  2008.  Female reproductive tract fluids: composition, mechanism of formation and potential role in the developmental origins of health and disease.  Reprod Fertil Dev. 20(1):1-8.

Leese HJ, Sturmey RG, Baumann CG, McEvoy TG.  2007.  Embryo viability and metabolism: obeying the quiet rules.  Hum Reprod. 2007 22(12):3047-50.

Sturmey RG, O'Toole PJ, Leese HJ.  2006.  Fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis of mitochondrial:lipid association in the porcine oocyte. Reproduction. 132(6):829-37.

Humpherson PG, Leese HJ, Sturmey RG.  2005.  Amino acid metabolism of the porcine blastocyst. Theriogenology. 64(8):1852-66.

Sturmey RG, Leese HJ.  2003.  Energy metabolism in pig oocytes and early embryos. Reproduction. 126(2):197- 204.