Loke CTR members Andrew Sharkey, Ashley Moffett and Francesco Colucci were recently awarded an MRC Grant investigating how interactions between maternal uterine NK cells and fetal trophoblast cells

CTR members Andrew Sharkey, Ashley Moffett and Francesco Colucci were recently awarded an MRC project grant. This award will allow them to continue their research investigating how interactions between maternal uterine NK cells and fetal trophoblast cells regulate placental development. Genetic and functional studies in both humans and mouse models have shown that excessive inhibition of uNK cell function results seems to reduce trophoblast invasion. This increases the risk of stillbirth, pre-eclampsia and fetal growth restriction. Conversely when uterine NK cells are strongly activated placental development is enhanced resulting in bigger babies which can bring other problems such as obstructive labour.  The goal of the project is to understand how the interactions between maternal immune cells and the placenta regulate reproductive success and alter the risk of complications of pregnancy.