Understanding
the mechanisms responsible for the onset of labour
To understand the mechanisms
responsible for the onset of labour. We are
investigating whether the change in the myometrium
from a dormant state to the contractile state that
occurs during labour is caused by the activation of
genes. The lab has shown that both mechanical
signals (due to stretching of the myometrium) and
endocrine signals are required to activate a
cassette of genes called
"contractile-associated proteins" (e.g.
Cx43 and oxytocin receptor) and initiate labour.
Utero-Placental
Vascular Remodeling
Details coming soon.
Developmental
origins of Health and Disease (DOHAD)
The
overall
objective of our research program is to
define gene-environment interactions that underlie
the DOHaD with the expectation that such data would
ultimately inform the development of intervention
strategies to positively impact on the health and
well-being of children and adults. Our program
integrates both population and murine developmental
genetic approaches in our understanding of DOHaD.
Diagnosis
of True Preterm Birth
We are utilizing a
genome-wide analysis to predict the onset of human
preterm birth, with the eventual aim of developing a
diagnostic test for true preterm birth.
