Tanja Jankovic-karasoulos

Biography

I am a postdoctoral research fellow in the School of Medicine, Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and the Robinson Research Institute. My current research involves characterisation of molecular processes involved in placental development across gestation and how these are disrupted in pregnancy complications. Defects in placentation, characterised by impaired placental trophoblast cell invasion and poor remodelling of the maternal uterine spiral arterioles, significantly contribute to pregnancy complications including preeclampsia (PE), intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) and preterm labour. Currently there is little in routine clinical practice that monitors the health of the placenta. My research is focussed on defining the human placental transcriptome and epigenome, and determining the molecular regulation of key pregnancy processes, including normal placental trophoblast invasion and placental function. I have established a primary trophoblast cell culture model, and together with my expertise with ex-vivo tissue culture explant models, I am able to perform gene functional studies in human trophoblasts from both uncomplicated and complicated pregnancies. These studies aim to identify potential therapeutic targets and biomarkers of pregnancy complications.

Research Interest

Medicine,Medical Education,Research,etc