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Centre for Trophoblast Research

 
Read more at: Disruption of Folate Metabolism Causes Poor Alignment and Spacing of Mouse Conceptuses for Multiple Generations

Disruption of Folate Metabolism Causes Poor Alignment and Spacing of Mouse Conceptuses for Multiple Generations

13 December 2021

Amy L. Wilkinson, Katerina Menelaou, Joanna Rakoczy, Xiu S. Tan and Erica D. Watson Abstract Abnormal uptake or metabolism of folate increases risk of human pregnancy complications, though the mechanism is unclear. Here, we explore how defective folate metabolism influences early development by analysing mice with the...


Read more at: Uterine atlas can lead to better models of the womb, provide insights into diseases

Uterine atlas can lead to better models of the womb, provide insights into diseases

9 December 2021

In the quest to study the womb and its role in reproductive health, researchers in the Turco lab and their collaborators have generated a cellular map of the human uterus and of endometrial organoids — lab-grown models of the womb’s lining. The atlas, which is the most detailed of its kind, will help scientists to develop...


Read more at: Mapping the temporal and spatial dynamics of the human endometrium in vivo and in vitro

Mapping the temporal and spatial dynamics of the human endometrium in vivo and in vitro

9 December 2021

Luz Garcia-Alonso, Louis-François Handfield, Kenny Roberts, Konstantina Nikolakopoulou, Ridma C. Fernando, Lucy Gardner, Benjamin Woodhams, Anna Arutyunyan, Krzysztof Polanski, Regina Hoo, Carmen Sancho-Serra, Tong Li, Kwasi Kwakwa, Elizabeth Tuck, Valentina Lorenzi, Hassan Massalha, Martin Prete, Vitalii Kleshchevnikov...


Read more at: Characterization of primary models of human trophoblast

Characterization of primary models of human trophoblast

3 November 2021

Megan A. Sheridan, Xiaohui Zhao, Ridma C. Fernando, Lucy Gardner, Vicente Perez-Garcia, Qian Li, Steven G.E. Marsh, Russell Hamilton, Ashley Moffett, Margherita Y. Turco Although understanding of human placental development is still limited, two models, trophoblast organoids and trophoblast stem cells (TSC) provide new...


Read more at: Breath of Life: Heart Disease Link to Developmental Hypoxia

Breath of Life: Heart Disease Link to Developmental Hypoxia

3 November 2021

Dino Guissani Abstract Heart disease remains one of the greatest killers. In addition to genetics and traditional lifestyle risk factors, we now understand that adverse conditions during pregnancy can also increase susceptibility to cardiovascular disease in the offspring. Therefore, the mechanisms by which this occurs and...


Read more at: Human embryo polarization requires PLC signaling to mediate trophectoderm specification

Human embryo polarization requires PLC signaling to mediate trophectoderm specification

5 October 2021

Meng Zhu, Marta Shahbazi, Angel Martin, Chuanxin Zhang, Berna Sozen, Mate Borsos, Rachel S Mandelbaum, Richard J Paulson, Matteo A Mole, Marga Esbert, Shiny Titus, Richard T Scott, Alison Campbell, Simon Fishel, Viviana Gradinaru, Han Zhao, Keliang Wu, Zijiang Chen, Emre Seli, Maria J. de los Santos, Magdalena Zernicka-...


Read more at: Retirement of Professor Abigail Fowden

Retirement of Professor Abigail Fowden

4 October 2021

Professor Abby Fowden is retiring after 45 years as a member of academic staff in Cambridge, including time spent as acting Head of Department for PDN and as Head of SBS. Her research has focused on the control of feto-placental growth, metabolism and development, and the long term consequences for adult health. To date...


Read more at: Genetic insights into biological mechanisms governing human ovarian ageing

Genetic insights into biological mechanisms governing human ovarian ageing

28 September 2021

Abstract Reproductive longevity is essential for fertility and influences healthy ageing in women 1 , 2 , but insights into its underlying biological mechanisms and treatments to preserve it are limited. Here we identify 290 genetic determinants of ovarian ageing, assessed using normal variation in age at natural menopause...


Read more at: New study explores the links between prenatal sex steroid hormones, maternal health and autism

New study explores the links between prenatal sex steroid hormones, maternal health and autism

28 September 2021

New research from the Autism Research Centre and the Rosie Hospital, both at the University of Cambridge, suggests that maternal steroid factors during pregnancy are associated with autistic traits in mothers and their infants. Previous studies have shown a relationship between prenatal sex steroid hormones and the...


Read more at: Reconstructing aspects of human embryogenesis with pluripotent stem cells

Reconstructing aspects of human embryogenesis with pluripotent stem cells

22 September 2021

Berna Sozen,Victoria Jorgensen,Bailey A. T. Weatherbee,Sisi Chen,Meng Zhu & Magdalena Zernicka-Goetz Abstract Understanding human development is of fundamental biological and clinical importance. Despite its significance, mechanisms behind human embryogenesis remain largely unknown. Here, we attempt to model human...