Ashley Zubkowski

A healthy pregnancy requires rapid and complex changes in both metabolism and the cardiovascular system. In obese pregnancies, these changes can be disrupted, but we still don’t fully understand why this happens or why it only affects some individuals.

My research explores the role of metabolites in both normal and obese pregnancies. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), I study metabolic and physiologic changes in mouse models, focusing on the mother, placenta, and fetus. This systems-level approach aims to uncover the mechanisms behind altered metabolic adaptation in obesity and improve our understanding of pregnancy health.