RESEARCH FOCUS

Our laboratory investigates specialized survival strategies used by the embryo as it grows within the uterus. Central to the embryo's survival is the formation of an organ derived from the embryo called the placenta. This organ gains access to the maternal blood supply and facilitates the delivery of nutrients to the fetus. We study how early stem cells develop into the placenta. We have learned that the placenta is built in response to cues present in the maternal environment; and diseases of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, result when the embryo is not successful in its adaptations to the maternal environment. Inadequate in utero adaptive responses have potentially long-lasting impacts on adult health and disease.

UPCOMING EVENTS

International Federation of Placenta Associations Annual Meeting

2021

Amsterdam, Netherlands

The 17th Annual Gilbert S. Greenwald Symposium

October 7-8, 2020

Kansas City, Missouri

Society for the Study of Reproduction Annual Meeting

August 4-7, 2021

St. Louis, Missouri

Society for Reproductive Investigation Annual Meeting

July 6 - 9, 2021

Boston, Massachusetts

RECENT UPDATES

​

​

Annual Meeting of the Society for the Study of Reproduction:

Regan L. Scott:  Recipient of a 2020 Lalor Foundation Merit Award and a Pre-doctoral Poster Award from the Society for the Study of Reproduction

Ayelen Moreno:  Recipient of a 2020 Lalor Foundation Merit Award and a Post-doctoral Platform Finalist from the Society for the Study of Reproduction

Ross P. McNally:  Recipient of a 2020 Lalor Foundation Merit Award and a Post-doctoral Poster Award from the Society for the Study of Reproduction

Marija Kuna:  Recipient of a 2020 Society for the Study of Reproduction Trainee Travel Award

Vinay Shukla:  Recipient of a 2020 Society for the Study of Reproduction Trainee Travel Award

​

​

Fellowships:

Ayelen Moreno:  Recipient of a Postdoctoral Fellowship from the Lalor Foundation, https://lalorfound.org/

Vinay Shukla:  Recipient of a K-INBRE Postdoctoral Fellowship Award, https://www.k-inbre.org/

Publications:

Poorly controlled diabetes mellitus alters placental structure, efficiency, and plasticity

Nteeba, J, Varberg, KM, Scott, RL, Simon, M, Iqbal, K, Soares, MJ.  BMJ Open Diabetes Research & Care. 2020; 8(1):e001243. 

PMID: 32595139 PMCID: PMC7322553