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Centre for Trophoblast Research

 

Research

Inappropriate materno-fetal resource allocation causes pregnancy complications and abnormal fetal growth with lifelong consequences for both mother and child. The placenta, the site of maternal-fetal exchange, secretes hormones that modify maternal metabolism and thereby impacts the nutrient availability for fetal growth. However, the precise role of placental endocrine function in supporting fetal growth and influencing future health outcomes of the offspring is unknown. To investigate this, I will exclusively delete or over-express Igf2, a driver of placental endocrine cell formation, in placental endocrine cells as a tool to modify placental endocrine function in mice. By examining the effect of altered placental endocrine function on fetal growth, birth outcomes and postnatal offspring metabolism, and identifying the molecular mechanisms involved in programming the postnatal phenotype, we will advance knowledge of the endocrine placenta and its long-term impact on future health.

 

 

Publications

Key publications: 

1. *Napso T, *Yong HEJ, Lopez-Tello J, Sferruzzi-Perri A. The role of placental hormones in mediating maternal adaptations to support pregnancy and lactation. Frontiers in Physiology 2018; 9:1091. (*Joint first-author)

2. Yong HEJ, Murthi P, Brennecke SP, Moses EK (2018). Genetic approaches in preeclampsia. Methods Mol Biol. 2018;1710:53-72.

3. Yong HEJ, Melton PE, Johnson MP, Freed KA, Kalionis B, Murthi P, Brennecke SP, Keogh RJ and Moses EK. Genome-wide transcriptome directed pathway analysis of maternal preeclampsia susceptibility genes. PLoS One 2015; 10(5): e0128230

 Hannah Ee Juen Yong