Travel story: Diksha Sirohi

Diksha Sirohi from the Robinson Research Institute travelled to Edinburgh, Scotland to attend and to present at the 15th World Endometriosis Conference in May. 

What was a highlight of the travel?

Networking with stalwarts in the field of endometriosis research was a great opportunity. We explored future research pathways, methodologies and funding opportunities.

How will the experience support you and your research going forward?

This experience was invaluable in developing the connection with people who have the expertise to develop and validate this tool internationally. The collaboration may result in funding opportunities for a post-doctoral project.

What was the most exciting thing you learned/experienced as part of your travel?

Presenting findings from my PhD to an international audience was exciting. There was a genuine interest among people to know about EndoZone and how the platform works for the endometriosis community to support and empower them.

Please provide details on any researchers or collaborators of significance that you met at the conference and why they are important to your work?

1. Dr Marina Kvaskoff from France is an internationally known endometriosis research scientist. We met and discussed the possibility of developing the Endometriosis Literacy Questionnaire and validating it in the French population. Dr. Kvaskoff had a positive response and is interested to collaborate on this work.
2. I met Prof. Georgina Jones from the University of Leeds Beckett. She is the author of the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire. She has experience in developing tools for endometriosis and was interested in collaborating with me on this project. We are currently exploring funding opportunities to take this further.
3. Prof. Stacey Missmer from the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, United States also had a positive impression about developing and validating the tool in the American population.

The above-mentioned scientists are internationally acclaimed for their work in the field of endometriosis research. They have the necessary expertise which will help in developing and validating the tool internationally.

What was the most interesting or unexpected moment of your travel?

I had not planned to meet Prof. Georgina Jones who is the author and developer of the Endometriosis Health Profile Questionnaire. I unexpectedly met her and knew she is the person with the correct expertise to help me with my tool. The cherry on the cake was that Prof. Jones was interested in collaboration.