Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences

Research Lab of Elizabeth Bonney, M.D., M.P.H.

Overview:

Area of interest: regulation of the immune response in pregnancy.

Our laboratory uses studies in mouse models and, in an iterative fashion, in humans to determine the rules underlying the regulation of maternal immunity. We have extensive experience in examining the homeostasis of T cells in the mouse maternal immune system, and this includes up-to-date methods to isolate and phenotype T cells from maternal tissues. Recently, we have extended our studies of T cell homeostasis to the postpartum period. Further, we are examining the role of the maternal immune system in systemic vascular remodeling both early and late postpartum. In an additional project, we use viral infection and exposure to bacterial coat proteins to understand innate-adaptive immune system cross-regulation during pregnancy. Our laboratory has moreover extended its focus to include neonatal immunity. One important clinical problem we seek to address is that of preterm labor. We continue to be interested in delineating the inflammatory processes that underlie both normal parturition and preterm birth. We are grateful for productive global collaborations, for multiple sources of funding, and for the friends, students, and trainees who contribute to our work.

Lab Members:

Mina Peshavaria, PhD, Volunteer Research Associate Professor
Nanbert Zhong, PhD, MD, Adjunct Associate Professor

Recent students/trainees: