Dr. Nicky Holdstock

Biography

Nicky graduated from the University of Cambridge Veterinary School in 1991 and subsequently worked with Rossdale Partners, Newmarket, where she obtained a PhD in Equine Perinatal Medicine and a certificate in Internal Stud Medicine. In 2000, she was awarded a clinical lectureship at Cambridge and in 2004 was recognized as a Specialist in Equine Internal Medicine and Stud Medicine. Nicky has also performed Expert Witness work and is currently the chief examiner for the RCVS certificate of the RCVS European Educational Boards. Her special interests include fetal/neonatal health critical care, ultrasonography, and artificial insemination. Nicky has experience in exotic medicine and has been involved in breeding programs for endangered species. Additionally, she organizes an annual course on Wildlife Game Capture held in South Africa. Her research interests focus on developmental physiology, specifically the endocrine mechanisms controlling intrauterine development and their long-term postnatal consequences. Her long-term goal is to identify conditions in early life that may lead to increased susceptibility to adult-onset degenerative diseases, such as Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome. In recent years, she has begun to assess the postnatal physiological consequences of altered patterns of intrauterine development, demonstrating that environmentally-induced changes in prenatal growth can determine postnatal growth, fat deposition, and glucose metabolism, as well as the functioning of endocrine systems, including the pancreas, pituitary, adrenal glands, and adipose tissue. Her studies have utilized a range of approaches to manipulate the intrauterine environment, including embryo transfer, dietary manipulation, and hormone administration in cases of multiple pregnancies.

Research Interests