Mechanistic And Translational Studies In Female Reproductive Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
The womb is essential for a health pregnancy. This research aims to determine how the womb interacts with embryos to ensure a healthy pregnancy forms. Cells in the womb can also grow abnormally and result in endometrial cancer. New treatments for endometrial cancer will also be tested in this research.
Focus On The Uterus: Basic And Translational Research Strategies To Address Key Issues In Women’s Health. Fertility, Infertility, Endometrial And Pregnancy Disorders.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,085,790.00
Summary
My work focuses on the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, into which the embryo implants to establish pregnancy. When the endometrium does not function correctly, the woman is usually infertile. Other disorders of the endometrium include endometriosis, menstrual bleeding problems and cancer. My studies have defined the molecular basis for much endometrial dysfunction. I am now developing non-invasive tests for these problems and rationales for new treatments.
Novel Roles For Follistatin In Reproductive Biology
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$630,916.00
Summary
The follistatin protein has important functions throughout the body. Recent studies using mutant mice have identified key roles for follistatin in the development and function of the female reproductive system (ovary, uterus). We will now undertake detailed studies to determine how follistatin regulates these processes. This is relevant to our understanding of the mechanisms causing infection and inflammation in the reproductive tract.
The Role Of Stem-progenitor Cells In Regeneration Of Mouse Endometrium.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$311,938.00
Summary
The endometrium (lining of the uterus) undergoes breakdown and re-growth each month as part of the menstrual cycle. This restorative process is not well understood. For the first time stem cells have been identified within human endometrium that are likely to be responsible for its remarkable regeneration. The aim of this project is to identify stem cells within the mouse endometrium, to use as a model to understand how the endometrium restores each month after menstruation.
Why Is Trophoblast Invasion Defective In Human Pregnancies That Develop Pre-eclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$504,500.00
Summary
Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious medical disorder of otherwise healthy young pregnant women. Early in pregnancies destined for pre-eclampsia, placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) do not invade deeply enough into maternal blood vessels within the uterus, with resultant low oxygen levels and reduced blood flow from the mother's circulation to placenta. This causes fetal under-nutrition and growth restriction, which if severe, can cause intrauterine death. To prevent this, the baby may need t ....Pre-eclampsia is the most common serious medical disorder of otherwise healthy young pregnant women. Early in pregnancies destined for pre-eclampsia, placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) do not invade deeply enough into maternal blood vessels within the uterus, with resultant low oxygen levels and reduced blood flow from the mother's circulation to placenta. This causes fetal under-nutrition and growth restriction, which if severe, can cause intrauterine death. To prevent this, the baby may need to be delivered prematurely, with grave risks of complications, both short and longterm. Women with pre-elampsia suffer from hypertension, activation of the clotting system, and generalized constriction of blood vessels. Together, these result in damage to blood vessel lining cells, reduced blood flow to, and disturbed function of many organs. Most commonly affected are kidney, liver, brain, and the uterine circulation. Babies born early and-or small-for-gestational-age have an increased incidence of vascular disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease in adult life. Improved understanding, and development of preventive and-or therapeutic strategies for pre-eclampsia are urgently needed. There is no satisfactory animal model to address pathogenesis of this peculiarly human disorder, which concurrently causes significant morbidity in two generations of people. Ethical constraints and the need for urgent therapy limit extensive research in affected pregnant women. With our unique in vitro cell co-culture strategy, we have clarified inter-relationships between fetal-placental cells (cytotrophoblasts) and their host maternal vascular cells (decidual endothelial cells) in the clinical syndrome of pre-eclampsia. Building on this work we will now examine maternal-placental intercellular cooperation in regulation of normal placental development, and explore the defective regulation of placental development that precedes pre-eclampsia.Read moreRead less