Soares, Michael J., Ph.D.
University Distinguished Professor
IRHRM
Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine
University of Kansas Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, Kansas 66160
Research Interests:
–Biology of embryo implantation, placentation, and pregnancy
-Species-specific adaptations to physiological stressors
Our laboratory is interested in the regulation of cell differentiation, especially as related to trophoblast stem cells, and signaling pathways controlling their developmental fate, and their organization into the hemochorial placenta. The rat possesses hemochorial placentation with deep intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion and trophoblast-directed uterine spiral artery remodeling; features shared with human placentation. Recognition of these similarities spurred the establishment of in vitro and in vivo research methods using the rat as an animal model to address mechanistic questions regarding development of the hemochorial placenta. We are also interested in species-specific reproductive adaptations to physiological stressors and signaling events involved in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy; including investigations on the prolactin gene family, intrauterine inflammatory and immune cells, uterine vasculature, decidual cells, and the invasive trophoblast cell lineage.
