I am a principal investigator in the UCC Biosciences Research Institute.

Maternal-Fetal Interactions: Evolution, Mechanisms & Disease One of our major interests is in understanding aspects of the evolutionary genetics and physiological mechanisms underlying normal and pathological pregnancy in the mouse and human. Currently, we are investigating the function of the Pregnancy-specific glycoprotein (PSG) multigene family (http://www.med.uni-muenchen.de/cea/) using a variety of approaches, including bioinformatics and biochemical approaches, and mouse genome manipulation by transgenesis and gene targeting. We are developing novel transgenic techniques in mice to manipulate placental function in vivo using inducible gene promoters expressed in various trophoblast cell lineages. In collaboration with Prof. T.V. McCarthy, are initiating genetic investigations of human reproductive disorders, which will identify candidate genes for functional analysis in mouse genetic models. We have an ongoing interest in genomic imprinting and in imprinted gene evolution and function (http://www.mgu.har.mrc.ac.uk/imprinting/imprinting.html) , particularly in relation to placental growth in normal pregnancy, and in reproductive disorders such as IUGR and preeclampsia.