Research
I’m part of Miguel Constância’s group. My current work is focused on two research areas:
- Using novel in vivo conditional deletions in the mouse I’m aiming to understand the molecular mechanisms by which the imprinted insulin-like growth factor 2 (Igf2) gene regulates the normal development of placental vasculature during late gestation;
2 I’m also studying the epigenetic basis of the so-called “nutritional programming” of adult diseases, a phenomenon by which suboptimal diet during critical periods of development is associated with risk of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and obesity in later life. I’m particularly interested in understanding the role of altered promoter-enhancer interactions in this phenomenon.
FUNDING. MRC
Publications
1) Sandovici I, Hoelle K, Angiolini E & Constância M (2012). Placental adaptations to the maternal-fetal environment: implications for fetal growth and developmental programming. RBM online. 25(1): 68-89.
2) Sandovici I, Smith NH, Nitert MD, Ackers-Johnson M, Uribe-Lewis S, Ito Y, Jones RH, Marquez VE, Cairns W, Tadayyon M, O’Neill LP, Murrell A, Ling C, Constância M & Ozanne SE (2011). Maternal diet and aging alter the epigenetic control of a promoter-enhancer interaction at the Hnf4a gene in rat pancreatic islets. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 108(13): 5449-5454.
3) Constância M, Angiolini E, Sandovici I, Smith P, Smith RJ, Kelsey G, Dean W, Ferguson-Smith AC, Sibley CP, Reik W & Fowden AL (2005). Adaptation of nutrient supply to fetal demand in the mouse involves interaction between the Igf2 gene and placental transporter systems. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 102(52): 19219-19224
