Staff Profile

Qualifications

PhD, University of Newcastle, 2016

MRCOG, 2011

MBChB, University of Edinburgh, 2005

Professional Memberships

Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (RCOG)

British Gynaecologic Cancer Society (BGCS)

British and Irish Association for Robotic Gynaecological Surgeons (BIARGS)

British Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology (BSCCP)

British Society for the Study of Vulval Disease (BSVVD)

European Society of Gynaecology Oncology (ESGO)

British Association for Cancer Research (BACR)

European Association for Cancer Research (EACR)

Associate Member American Association for Cancer Research (AACR)

Research Interests

Rachel graduated from Edinburgh Medical School in 2005 and joined the South-East Scotland Obstetrics and Gynaecology training program in 2007.  In 2011 she transferred from Edinburgh to join the team at the Northern Gynaecological Oncology Centre and went on to complete her PhD in translational ovarian cancer research in 2016.

Rachel has 2 main streams of work. Her translational research aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for gynaecological cancers and in particular the exploitation of targeting the DNA damage response. She is interested in the implications of intra-tumoural heterogeneity for biomarker sampling, response to therapy and ultimately the implications for clinical investigation and management strategies. Rachel's second stream of research in Applied Health Research explores the patient experience during their cancer journey, addressing opportunities and inequalities in patient contribution to research.  

Her principle area of clinical interest relates to patient pathways and routes to diagnosis as well as ultra-radical surgery for advanced ovarian cancer. 

Rachel plays an active role in undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and is a Senior Clinical Tutor for the Tyne Base Unit. She has both wet-lab and clinical research studies in progress and welcomes motivated students (SSC, MRes, postgraduate doctorate) to get in touch by email if interested in joining this work. 

Undergraduate Roles:

• Senior Clinical Tutor for Tyne 
• SSC Supervisor 
• MRes Supervisor 
• Examiner for Stage 3 MBBS OSCE 

Postgraduate

• RCOG Educational Supervisor 
• Deputy Course Director NSTC Gynaecology
  

• Saha SS, Gentles L, Bradbury A, Brecht D, Robinson R, O'Donnell R, Curtin NJ, Drew Y. Genomic, transcriptomic, and functional alterations in DNA damage response pathways as putative biomarkers of chemotherapy response in ovarian cancer. Cancers 2021, 13(6), 1420.
• Bradbury A, O'Donnell R, Drew Y, Curtin NJ, Sharma Saha S. Characterisation of ovarian cancer cell line NIH-OVCAR3 and implications of genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic and functional DNA damage response biomarkers for therapeutic targeting. Cancers 2020, 12(7), 1939.
• Robinson H, Karpe M, Edidi I, Fisher A, Drew Y, Ralte A, O'Donnell RL. Enteric Type Bartholin Gland Adenocarcinoma: An Unusual Variant of a Rare Neoplasm. International Journal of Gynecological Pathology 2021, 40(2), 190-195.
• Gentles L, Howarth R, Lee WJ, Sharma-Saha S, Ralte A, Curtin N, Drew Y, O'Donnell RL. Integration of computer-aided automated analysis algorithms in the development and validation of immunohistochemistry biomarkers in ovarian cancer. Journal of Clinical Pathology 2021, 74(7), 469-474.
• Elkadi H, Bradbury M, O'Donnell RL, Naik R. Intra-Operative Trans-Ureteric Stent Insertion during Cytoreductive Surgery for Ovarian Cancer: Update of a Novel Technique. Journal of Gynecological Oncology 2020, 3, 1039.
• Lengyel K, Young F, Kucukmetin A, Cresti N, Plummer R, Ralte A, O'Donnell RL. BRAF Wild-type, PTEN Mutant Malignant Uveal Melanoma Arising Within a Mature Ovarian Teratoma: A Case Report and Review of the Literature. International Journal of Gynecological Pathology 2020, 39(4), 321-326.
• Gentles L, Goranov B, Matheson E, Herriott A, Kaufmann A, Hall S, Mukhopadhyay A, Drew Y, Curtin NJ, O'Donnell RL. Exploring the frequency of Homologous Recombination DNA Repair Dysfunction in Multiple Cancer Types. Cancers 2019, 11(3), 354.
• O'Donnell RL, Angelopoulos G, Beirne JP, Biliatis I, Bolton H, Bradbury M, Craig E, Gajir K, MacKintosh ML, MacNab W, Madhuri K, McComiskey M, Myriokefalitaki E, Newton C, Ratnavelu N, Taylor S, Thangavelu A, Rhodes SA, Crosbie EJ, Edmondson RJ, Wan YL. Impact of surgical site infection (SSI) following gynaecological cancer surgery in the United Kingdom: A trainee-led multicentre audit and service evaluation. BMJ Open 2019, 9(1), e024853.
• May J, Skorupskaite K, Congiu M, Ghaoui N, Walker GA, Fegan S, Martin CW, ODonnell RL. Borderline Ovarian Tumors: Fifteen Years’ Experience at a Scottish Tertiary Cancer Center. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 2018, 28(9), 1683-1691.
• Franklin M, Gentles L, Matheson E, Bown N, Cross P, Ralte A, Gilkes-Immeson C, Bradbury A, Zanjirband M, Lunec J, Drew Y, O'Donnell R, Curtin NJ. Characterization and drug sensitivity of a novel human overian clear cell carcinoma cell line genomically and phenotypically similar to the original tumor. Cancer Medicine 2018, 7(9), 4744-4754.
• Tomassini S, Gentles L, Kirk C, Cross P, Thomas H, Wedge S, Curtin NJ, O'Donnell RL. An investigation of the effect of tissue ischaemia upon DNA damage protein markers in ovarian cancer. In: BASO - The Association for Cancer Surgery Annual Scientific Conference and the NCRI Cancer Conference. 2017, Liverpool: Elsevier.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Elliot K, Cuthbert G, O'Donnell R, Wilson BT, Sutton R, Leeson C, Thomas HD, Blair H, Fordham S, Lunec J, Allan J, Edmondson RJ. Functional characterisation of a novel ovarian cancer cell line, NUOC-1. Oncotarget 2017, 8(16), 26832-26844.
• O'Donnell RL, Verleye L, Ratnavelu N, Galaal K, Fisher A, Naik R. Locally advanced vulva cancer: A single centre review of anovulvectomy and a systematic review of surgical, chemotherapy and radiotherapy alternatives. Is an international collaborative RCT destined for the “too difficult to do” box?. Gynecologic Oncology 2017, 144(2), 438-447.
• McCormick A, Donoghue P, Dixon M, O'Sullivan R, O'Donnell RL, Murray J, Kaufmann A, Curtin NJ, Edmondson RJ. Ovarian Cancers Harbour Defects in Non-Homologous End Joining Resulting in Resistance to Rucaparib. Clinical Cancer Research 2017, 23(8), 2050-2060.
• O'Donnell RL, Kaufmann A, Woodhouse L, McCormick A, Cross PA, Edmondson RJ, Curtin NJ. Advanced Ovarian Cancer Displays Functional Intratumor Heterogeneity That Correlates to Ex Vivo Drug Sensitivity. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 2016, 26(6), 1004-1011.
• Bizzarri N, Ghirardi V, Rundle S, O'Donnell RL, Bradbury M, Kotsopoulos IC, Natsis S, Cross P, Naik R. Endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the rectovaginal septum arising within a focus of endometriosis. In: 16th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. 2016, Lisbon, Portugal: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• Dent BM, Ogle LF, O'Donnell RL, Hayes N, Mallick U, Curtin NJ, Boddy AV, Plummer ER, Edmondson RJ, Reeves HL, May FEB, Jamieson D. High-resolution imaging for the detection and characterisation of circulating tumour cells from patients with oesophageal, hepatocellular, thyroid and ovarian cancers. International Journal of Cancer 2016, 138(1), 206-216.
• O'Donnell RL, Clement KM, Edmondson RJ. Hormone replacement therapy after treatment for a gynaecological malignancy. Current Opinion in Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2016, 28(1), 32-41.
• Bizzarri N, Rundle S, Ghirardi V, O'Donnell RL, Bradbury M, Ozkose B, Kotsopoulos IC, Natsis S, Kucukmetin A. Laparoscopic management of FIGO stage IIIA2 ovarian carcinosarcoma with bulky pelvic lymphadenopathy and pelvic peritoneal involvement. In: 16th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. 2016, Lisbon, Portugal: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Ltd.
• Bizzarri N, Bradbury M, O'Donnell RL, Rundle S, Ghirardi V, Natsis S, Kotsopoulos IC, Ang C, Kucukmetin A, Fisher AD, Godfrey KA, Ratnavelu N, Naik R, Bhaumik J, Ghosh A, Chakraboti B, Helm CW, Mukhopadhyay A. Metastatic involvement of the lesser sac in advanced epithelial ovarian cancer. In: 16th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. 2016, Lisbon, Portugal: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Ltd.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Leeson C, Dixon M, O'Donnell R, Kaufmann A, Edmondson RJ. Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog Is a Potential Target for Ovarian Cancer Sensitization to Cytotoxic Agents. International Journal of Gynecological Cancer 2016, 26(4), 632-639.
• Bizzarri N, Bradbury M, O'Donnell RL, Rundle S, Ghirardi V, Natsis S, Kotsopoulos IC, Ang C, Kucukmetin A, Fisher AD, Godfrey KA, Ratnavelu N, Naik R, Bhaumik J, Ghosh A, Chakraborti B, Helm CW, Mukhopadhyay A. Risk factors for lesser sac metastasis in advanced ovarian cancer. In: 16th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. 2016, Lisbon, Portugal: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Ltd.
• McCormick A, Donoghue P, Dixon M, O'Donnell R, Kaufmann A, Curtin N, Edmondson R. Defects in non-homologous end joining pathway in ovarian cancers results in resistance to rucaparib. In: Blair Bell Research Society. 2015, Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
• O'Donnell RL, Kaufman A, Woodhous L, McCormick A, Curtin NJ, Edmondson R. Intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity in epithelial ovarian cancer: consequences for biomarker dependent stratification of therapies. In: Annual Meeting of the Blair Bell Research Society. 2015, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, London: Wiley-Blackwell.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Leeson C, Dixon M, O'Donnell R, Kaufman A, Edmondson R. Phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) is a potential target for ovarian cancer sensitisation to cytotoxic agents. In: 19th International Meeting of the European Society of Gynecological Oncology (ESGO 2015). 2015, Nice, France: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Leeson C, Dixon M, O'Donnell R, Kaufmann A, Edmondson R. PTEN function is important in determining ovarian cancer sensitivity to cytotoxic agents. In: Annual Meeting of the Blair Bell Research Society 2015. 2015, Wiley-Blackwell.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Leeson C, Dixon M, O'Donnell RL, Kaufmann A, Edmondson RJ. PTEN function is important in determining ovarian cancer sensitivity to cytotoxic agents. BJOG 2015, 122(12), e1-e13. In Preparation.
• Patterson MJ, Sutton RJ, Forrest I, Sharrock R, Lane M, Kaufmann A, O'Donnell R, Edmondson R, Wilson BT, Curtin N. Assessing the function of homologous recombination DNA repair in malignant pleural effusion (MPE) samples. British Journal of Cancer 2014, 111(1), 94-100.
• Dent B, O'Donnell RL, Ogle LF, Rourke ED, Ramesh HP, Moat M, Hayes N, Mallick UK, May FE, Reeves HL, Curtain NJ, Edmondson RJ, Boddy AV, Plummer R, Jamieson D. Detection and characterization of circulating tumor cells by imaging flow cytometry. In: AACR Annual Meeting 2014. 2014, San Diego, CA: American Association for Cancer Research.
• Ogle L, Jamieson D, O'Donnell R, Dent B, Boddy A, Curtin N, Plummer R, Reeves H, Clinical and Translational Group. Detection of circulating tumour cells (CTCS) in hepatocellular (HCC) cancer patients using the ImageStream^x. In: The International Liver Congress 2014: 49th Annual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of the Liver. 2014, London: Elsevier BV.
• Woodhouse L, McCormick A, O'Donnell R, Kaufmann A, Edmondson R. Development of a Functional Assay to Determine the Nucleotide Excision Repair Status of Epithelial Overian Cancer. In: 15th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynecologic Cancer Society. 2014, Melbourne, Australia: BMJ Group.
• Moat M, O'Donnell RL, McCluggage WG, Ralte A, Edmondson RJ. Gastric-type adenocarcinoma of the cervix in a patient with Lynch syndrome: A case report. Gynecologic Oncology Reports 2014, 10, 41-43.
• O'Donnell RL, McCormick A, Mukhopadhyay A, Woodhouse LC, Moat M, Grundy A, Dixon M, Kaufmann A, Soohoo S, Elattar A, Curtin NJ, Edmondson RJ. The Use of Ovarian Cancer Cells from Patients Undergoing Surgery to Generate Primary Cultures Capable of Undergoing Functional Analysis. PLoS ONE 2014, 9(3), e90604.
• O'Donnell RL, Woodhouse LC, McCormick A, Kaufmann A, Dixon M, Mukhopadhyay A, Curtin NJ, Edmondson RJ. Intra- and inter-tumour heterogeneity in epithelial ovarian cancer: Consequences for biomarker-dependent stratification of therapies. Clinical Cancer Research 2013, 19, PR10.
• McCormick A, Dixon M, ODonnell R, Curtin NJ, Edmondson RJ. Ovarian cancers harbor defects in nonhomologous end joining resulting in error prone repair and resistance to rucaparib. In: CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH. 2013, 615 CHESTNUT ST, 17TH FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-4404 USA: AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH.
• McCormick A, Earp E, Leeson C, Dixon M, ODonnell R, Edmondson RJ. PTEN expression level is important in determining sensitivity to cytotoxic agents in vitro, but is not representative of PTEN function observed in primary ovarian cancer cultures. In: CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH. 2013, 615 CHESTNUT ST, 17TH FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-4404 USA: AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH.
• O'Donnell RL, Murray JCC, Buskin AGB, Frame S, Blake DG, Dixon M, McCormick A, Kaufmann A, Plummer ER, Edmondson RJ, Curtin NJ. Therapeutic potential of sapacitabine in ovarian cancers defective in homologous recombination. In: CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH. 2013, 615 CHESTNUT ST, 17TH FLOOR, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19106-4404 USA: AMER ASSOC CANCER RESEARCH.
• O'Donnell RL, Warner P, Lee RJ, Walker J, Bath LE, Kelnar CJ, Wallace WHB, Critchley HO. Physiological sex steroid replacement in premature ovarian failure: randomised crossover trial of effect on uterine volume, endometrial thickness and blood flow, compared with a standard regimen. Human Reproduction 2012, 27(3), 1130-8.
• O'Donnell RL, Critchley HOD, Wallace WHB. Fertility in Survivors of Childhood Cancer. In: The Oxford Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. Oxford University Press, 2010.