Centre for Research on Biomolecular Interactions presents Prof. Charles Graham, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University at Kingston

Talk Title: "Abnormal maternal inflammation and complications of pregnancy"

Abstract:

There is increasing evidence that various complications of pregnancy, such as pre-eclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), pre-term birth and spontaneous pregnancy loss, are associated with abnormal maternal inflammation. Using a rat model we have shown that alterations in utero-placental perfusion are largely responsible for pregnancy loss, IUGR, and features of pre-eclampsia induced by aberrant maternal inflammation. Our studies have revealed that impaired utero-placental perfusion due to abnormal inflammation is associated with deficient remodelling of the uterine spiral arteries that supply the placenta as well as with local and systemic hemostatic alterations. Further findings demonstrate that management of inflammation with the use of specific anti-inflammatory molecules, or with exercise, may be useful in the prevention of pregnancy complications. Our most recent studies aim at investigating the long-term health consequences of aberrant inflammation to both the affected mothers and their offspring.

Please join us,

Refreshments will be served.