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Research group

Developmental Physiology and Medicine

Silhouette images depicting the stages from pregnancy to pre-teenage stages of life

Discovering developmental processes from conception, throughout pregnancy and during childhood, and innovating medical monitoring and diagnostics that create the best start to life and optimise life-long health.

About

Development in the first 1000-1500 days of life (from conception into early childhood) has long-lasting effects on our chances for health for our entire life-course, and the risk of later ill-health, especially non-communicable disease (NCDs). 

Our aim is to improve the scientific basis for diet, drug and novel monitoring and diagnostic interventions to optimise reproductive outcomes and maximize the chances of health in later health. 

Our research focuses on identifying key biological pathways by which nutrition, environmental toxicants/ allergens, and health and disease status of the mother and father influence a myriad of developmental processes from: 

  • the egg and sperm production
  • maternal reproductive tract cross-talk with the developing embryo
  • early embryo-fetal growth and cardiometabolic function
  • placental structure and transport of nutrients
  • paediatric gastrointestinal, respiratory and allergy function

We are scientists and academic clinicians with expertise at the forefront of developmental molecular biology, computational modelling, animal physiology, and human basic, clinical and population studies. This facilitates the translational development of interventions that optimise life-long health for the next generation. We advocate widely for this area of early life medical science with a wide range of stakeholders in government and non-government policy, industry, and civic spaces. 

DPM Research Teams and labs 

Spotlight on our early career researchers 

Dr Davis Laundon, Placental and endometrial lab 

Molly Rutt, Placental and endometrial lab 

Ela Proudley, Placental and endometrial lab

People, projects, publications and PhDs

People

Dr Sandrine Willaime-Morawek

Associate Professor

Research interests

  • How brain development and function are affected by external factors such as maternal diet
  • In vitro stem cells modelling of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases' molecular and cellular pathology

Accepting applications from PhD students

Email: s.willaime-morawek@soton.ac.uk

Address: Southampton General Hospital, Tremona Road Shirley, SO16 6YD

Professor Ying Cheong

Professor of Reproductive Medicine

Email: y.cheong@soton.ac.uk

Address: Princess Anne Hospital, Coxford Road, SO16 5YA

Related research institutes, centres and groups

Related research institutes, centres and groups

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