Professor Stephen Franks

Research interests

Ovarian physiology: control of follicle development in the mammalian ovary
Polycystic ovary syndrome: aetiology, reproductive and metabolic consequences

Fellowships and honours
Fellow of Academy of Medical Sciences
Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians
Fellow (ad eundem) of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists
Honorary Doctorate in Medicine, University of Uppsala, Sweden

Membership of Societies
Society for Endocrinology (Member of Clinical Committee)
Endocrinology and Diabetes Section of Royal Society of Medicine (Member of Council)
British Society for Cell Biology
Society for Reproduction and Fertility
British Fertility Society
The Endocrine Society (USA)

Recent key publications

Barber TM, Bennett AJ, Groves CJ, Sovio U, Ruokonen A, Martikainen H, Pouta A, Hartikainen AL, Elliott P, Lindgren CM, Freathy RM, Koch K, Ouwehand WH, Karpe F, Conway GS, Wass JA, Jarvelin MR, Franks S, McCarthy MI: Association of variants in the fat mass and obesity associated (FTO) gene with polycystic ovary syndrome. Diabetologia 2008 51:1153-1158,

Barber TM, Golding SJ, Alvey C, Wass JA, Karpe F, Franks S, McCarthy MI: Global adiposity rather than abnormal regional fat distribution characterizes women with polycystic ovary syndrome. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 93:999-1004

Franks S, Stark J, Hardy K: Follicle dynamics and anovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome. Hum Reprod Update 200814:367-378

Franks S, Webber LJ, Goh M, Valentine A, White DM, Conway GS, Wiltshire S, McCarthy MI: Ovarian morphology is a marker of heritable biochemical traits in sisters with polycystic ovaries. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2008 93:3396-3402

Da Silva-Buttkus P, Jayasooriya GS, Mora JM, Mobberley M, Ryder TA, Baithun M, Stark J, Franks S, Hardy K. Effect of cell shape and packing density on granulosa cell proliferation and formation of multiple layers during early follicle development in the ovary. J Cell Sci. 2008 121(Pt 23):3890-900.

Da Silva-Buttkus P, Marcelli G, Franks S, Stark J, Hardy K. Inferring biological mechanisms from spatial analysis: prediction of a local inhibitor in the ovary. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2009 106(2):456-61.

Franks S. Do animal models of polycystic ovary syndrome help to understand its pathogenesis and management? Yes, but their limitations should be recognized. Endocrinology 2009 150:3983-5.