Hilary Critchley (BSc (Hons) MBChB (with Hons), MD, DSc, FRCOG, FMedSci, FRSE)

Professor of Reproductive Medicine

  • School of Regeneration and Repair
  • Institute of Regeneration and Repair
  • Centre for Reproductive Health

Contact details

Address

Street

Institute for Regeneration and Repair
4-5 Little France Drive | Edinburgh BioQ

City
Post code
EH16 4UU

Biography

Background

Professor Hilary Critchley is a clinical scientist and holds a Personal Chair in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Edinburgh (since 1999) and is Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist at the Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh (since 1993). She is the immediate former Head of Deanery of Clinical Sciences at the University of Edinburgh; and former Co-Director, MRC Centre for Reproductive Health, Edinburgh. Her research focuses on improving the understanding of the complex basic science of the uterine endometrium and the clinical management of gynaecological complaints with major impacts on women’s quality of life, including heavy menstrual bleeding. She is current Chair of the Wellbeing of Women Research Advisory Committee, and the immediate Past Chair of the FIGO Committee for Menstrual Disorders and Related Health Impacts. Her commitment to addressing problems of menstrual bleeding embraces not only how research can enhance our understanding and care, but also how we “tackle the taboo” around menstruation. Her world leading expertise in the field of endometrial biology/ reproductive medicine and science has recognition from National and International Academies, and, discipline Societies. She is a Fellow of the UK Academy of Medical Sciences and Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, and an elected International Member of the US National Academy of Medicine. Hilary is committed to seeing research in reproductive health maintain a critical mass, so it achieves a prominent position in the national/ global health funding arena. She has published over 250 peer-reviewed scientific articles. Hilary is an advocate for mentorship in supporting the careers of Clinical and non-Clinical Academics

Qualifications

Education/Training/ Professional recognition

  • BSc (Hons) Anatomy, Manchester University 1978
  • MBChB with Honours, Manchester University 1981
  • MD Manchester University 1991
  • DSc University of Edinburgh 2021
  • FRANZCOG 1991
  • FRCOG 1998
  • FMedSci 2009
  • FRSB 2010
  • FRSE 2012
  • Elected as an International Member to US National Academy of Medicine 2021

Responsibilities & affiliations

Professor of Reproductive Medicine, The University of Edinburgh

Honorary Consultant Gynaecologist, NHS Lothian

  • Wellbeing of Women Research Advisory Committee (RAC) Chair from 2024-
  • Cambridge Reproduction, Member of External Advisory Board from 2025-
  • BioInnovation Institute (BII), Copenhagen, Denmark, member of BII Women's Health Innovation Panel (WHIP)
  • Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) Chair, Development Committee and Foundation (DCaF) from 2025-
  • Immediate Past Chair 2023-2025: International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) Committee for Menstrual Disorders and Related Health Impacts (MDRHI); Chair 2021-2023
  • Centre for Trophoblast Research (CTR), Cambridge – Immediate Past Chair CTR Scientific Advisory Board Chair, 2021-2024; CTR Scientific Advisory Board Member, 2014-2021

Current Editorial Board Membership

  • Physiological Reviews (Associate Editor from April 2019)

Open to PhD supervision enquiries?

No

Research summary

Her research programme for over 30 years has harnessed cross-disciplinary laboratory and clinical expertise to dissect the complex basic science of the uterine endometrium and translate this into clinical practice. Her group’s research agenda has focused on improving the understanding of menstruation, endometrial physiology – including endometrial bleeding, and clinical management of gynaecological complaints with major impacts on women's quality of life, notably heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB).  Fundamental studies on endometrial physiology have made major contributions to understanding of mechanisms regulating onset of menstruation and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). Major contributions have been made to understanding local endometrial responses to withdrawal of progesterone, both physiological and pharmacological. Study of the local effects of pharmacological steroid receptor modulation in uterine tissues has informed development of novel treatment strategies for problematic uterine bleeding (including fibroids). Recent studies have included further development of models for studying menstruation and endometrial bleeding. She has over 250 peer-reviewed publications. Her commitment to addressing problems of menstrual bleeding embraces not only how research can enhance our understanding and care, but also how we “tackle the taboo” around menstruation.

Project activity

  • Determining the endometrial phenotype of women with abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB).
  • Mechanisms underpinning AUB and heavy menstrual bleeding (HMB) and development of physiomimetic models
  • Unravelling the causes of declining uterine function with age
  • Understanding health related impacts of AUB and HMB: iron deficiency (ID) and ID anaemia
  • Mechanisms of action of selective progesterone receptor modulators (SPRMs) on the endometrium and uterus.
  • Novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of uterine morphology in women with AUB

Current project grants

1. A randomised trial of relugolix combination therapy versus usual medical treatment in the medical management of heavy menstrual bleeding (RESPONSIBLE). NIHR/ Health Technology Assessment: Award ID: NIHR170575.
Start February 2026. Co-CIs: Profs S Bhattacharya (University of Aberdeen) and H Critchley (University of Edinburgh)

2. OPAL: Hysteroscopy and polyp removal versus medical management for the improvement of abnormal uterine bleeding in premenopausal women: a feasibility trial. NIHR: Award ID: NIHR175087
Start May 2026. CI: Dr Lucky Saraswat (University of Aberdeen); includes Co-I: H Critchley (University of Edinburgh)

3. Medical Research Council: Heavy and painful menstrual periods and their relationship with depressive symptoms across the life course. Sharp, G (Chief Investigator; University of Exeter), includes Critchley, H. (co-applicant) & others.

4. WOMAN-3 trial: The effects of oral tranexamic acid on anaemia, menstrual health and wellbeing in women of reproductive age.
Study Details | NCT06519422 | Tranexamic Acid for Anaemia Trial | ClinicalTrials.gov
Sponsor: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine; CI: Prof Ian Roberts; WOMAN-3 Trial is expected to start recruiting from spring 2026. Funders: The Jon Moulton Charity Trust

5. Development of a novel uterine actuator for magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to enhance diagnostic accuracy in women’s health.
Funder: Medical Research Council IAA: PI: Dr Varsha Jain; Critchley, Hilary (Co-investigator), Roberts, Neil (Co-investigator), Yang, Dongmin (Co-investigator)

6. A New Vision for Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and Infertility Research: Collaboration with Prof Linda Griffith (Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Center for Gynepathology Research (CGR); and at the University of Edinburgh, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (CMVM), Professor Ruth Andrew. Support from the Manton Foundation

7. Exogenous sex steroid hormones and asthma phenotypes: a population-based prospective cohort study using UK-wide Primary Care Databases
Shah, A. (Principal Investigator), Shah, A. (Principal Investigator), Critchley, H. (Co-investigator), Jackson, T. (Co-investigator), Sheikh, A. (Co-investigator), Tibble, H. (Co-investigator) & Tsanas, T. (Co-investigator); Funder: Asthma UK

Past project grants

• DexFEM (MRC DCS/ DPFS funding) DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103434
Low dose dexamethasone as treatment for women with heavy menstrual bleeding: A response-adaptive randomised placebo-controlled dose-finding parallel group trial Dexamethasone for Excessive Menstruation (DexFEM).

• UCON (NIHR/MRC EME programme funding) DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.101995

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