Dr. Regisford – I have found my niche

Dr. E. Gloria C. Regisford, Associate Professor of Biology at Prairie View A&M University, Texas, USA, is enjoying every moment of her professional life.

Gloria was in St. Vincent and the Grenadines to take part in her family’s reunion, which took place over the Christmas season. She is the ninth and last child of the late David and Myrtle Regisford of Bridgetown, Biabou. {{more}}

During an interview with Searchlight just prior to returning to the United States, Dr. Regisford revealed that she loves the teaching and research she is currently involved in – “I have found my niche,” she declares. She teaches courses in Cell Biology, General Biology and Topics in Genomics (the study of genes and their function).

Her current research focuses on embryo implantation and ovarian cancer. She is looking at the similarities between the process of embryo implantation and metastasis in cancer. Dr. Regisford feels that if we can get an understanding into how embryo implantation is regulated in the uterus, then we can possibly find ways to control metastasis in cancer as both processes are analogous.

“Genomics and health disparities related to ovarian cancer,” is another one of Dr. Regisford’s research topics. She is a firm believer that “everything relates back to our genetics, even though our environment – diet, stress, where you live – could have an effect on the expression of these genes.”

Over the last seven years, Dr. Regisford’s research has attracted grant funds in excess of one million US dollars to Prairie View A&M University. In September 2003, she was promoted to the position of associate professor, and given tenure.

According to Dr. Regisford, her inspiration comes from her late mother, Myrtle Regisford. “Everything I do is done with Mummy in mind. She fought to ensure that I got a good education.” As the baby of the family, Gloria also had good role models in her older siblings. Her eldest brother, Dr. Fitzallan Regisford (see accompanying story), is 21 years older than she is. According to Gloria, “I didn’t meet Fitzallan until I was 13 years old. By the time I was born, he had already left St. Vincent.”

Her other siblings are Archdeacon Dr. Sylvanus Regisford, rector at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Calliaqua; Joan McNeil, a retired nurse in the United Kingdom; Monica Regisford-Douglin, secondary school principal in Trinidad and Tobago; the late Dr. Carl Regisford, former consultant orthopedic surgeon; Earl Regisford former engineering manager at Vinlec; Elfreda Regisford, secretary; and the late Dave Regisford, businessman.

A past student of the Biabou Methodist School, the Girls’ High School and the St. Vincent Grammar School, Gloria migrated to the United States in 1981 to further her education. In 1985 she graduated from the University of Rhode Island with a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science. From there, she moved on to Pennsylvania State University, where she graduated with a Masters degree in Reproductive Physiology in 1988. In 1994, she graduated with a PhD in Reproductive Endocrinology from Rutgers University.

Looking back at her life so far, she muses, “If I had to live my life all over again, I’d grow up in Biabou. I had so much fun in Biabou!”