Institut Jacques Monod Seminar – Courtney Hanna

Invited by the Greenberg, Courtney Hanna (Loke Centre for Trophoblast Research, Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge) will present an Institut Jacques Monod seminar:

Epigenetic regulation of placental development

Abstract:

The placenta is a vital, tree-like organ that connects the baby to mother during pregnancy. Its highly branched structure allows effective transport of nutrients and oxygen. Pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage or preterm birth, affect as many as 1 in 4 women, resulting in severe outcomes for both mother and baby. Mounting evidence supports that many pregnancy complications may be caused by a poorly functioning placenta due to impaired early developmental events.

Our research investigates mechanisms of epigenetic programming and gene regulation in early placental trophoblast, revealing how these underpin the development of a functional placenta. Specifically, we are assessing how early epigenetic programming in placental trophoblast is (1) distinct from the embryonic lineages, (2) regulating gene expression in differentiating trophoblast cells, and (3) coordinating appropriate lineage commitment and morphogenic events in placentation. Our group combines mouse embryology, trophoblast stem cell biology and multi-omics techniques to investigate these fundamental questions.