Grant: Operating Grant

The placenta is critical for implantation and health of the baby during pregnancy because of its role in nutrient and oxygen exchange from the mother but also because it produces several hormones that are thought to regulate maternal adaptations to pregnancy. We have discovered an amazing complexity of cell types that produce these hormones, lining different parts of the maternal blood space within the placenta. Studies in humans suggest the abnormal development can occur at these different locations leading to distinct complications of pregnancy. Our objective is to define the molecular mechanisms leading to development of these unique cell types and understand how they can adapt to changes in the environment.