PI: Sunil Shaw, PhD
The scientific aims of our COBRE have been to increase our understanding of reproductive biology and cardiopulmonary development, to enhance our understanding of perinatal diseases, like preeclampsia and preterm birth, and to develop new opportunities for novel therapeutic strategies. Our research focus during Phase I and Phase II was driven by recognition that the fundamental mechanisms that regulate embryonic development, cancer, and aging are overlapping. The success of our projects has been enhanced by the common view that looking through this “prism of development” provides unique experimental leverage and testable hypotheses for how regulatory pathways are governed later in life.
The programmatic aims of the COBRE have been to create a Center for Perinatal Biology providing scientific and career mentoring to junior faculty within an environment fostering creativity and transdisciplinary collaboration. During Phase III of the COBRE for Perinatal Biology, our objectives were: 1) continued support of COBRE-related activities; 2) transition the Center to sustainability; and 3) enhance perinatal and developmental research at Women & Infants Hospital. Resources for the Research Core programs were used to upgrade existing instrumentation to enhance our research sophistication. The Pilot Grants Program associated with the Phase-III COBRE stimulated collaborative research efforts that contributed to joint applications among the investigators and sustaining resources for the Core Facilities.