Professor Patrick Western

​Professor Patrick Western is a leading reproductive biologist at the Hudson Institute of Medical Research, where he co-heads the Centre for Endocrinology and Reproductive Health and leads the Germ Cell Development and Epigenetics Group. His research focuses on how epigenetic processes—chemical modifications that regulate gene activity—impact the development of germ cells (sperm and eggs) and how these changes can influence the health of future generations. By using genetic and pharmacological models, his team investigates how environmental factors like diet, stress, and exposure to certain chemicals can alter epigenetic programming in germ cells, potentially affecting fertility and offspring development. Professor Western’s work bridges basic science and clinical research, aiming to improve our understanding of reproductive health and inform strategies for disease prevention across generations. ​