New paper published in PLOS One by Kachikis lab
Read "Transplacental transfer of maternal SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in dichorionic and monochorionic twin pregnancies" here!
Mission
We are focused on understanding infectious diseases and immune responses in pregnancy, vaccines and therapeutics, maternal-fetal communication, hypertensive diseases in pregnancy, and placental biology. Through this important work, we strive to enhance reproductive outcomes for our patients across their lifespan.
Overview
Contact Us
General Inquiries:
mfmadmin@uw.edu
The Maternal-Fetal Medicine research group is part of University of Washington's Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. All faculty in this group are also Principal Investigators in the Center for Reproductive Sciences.
Faculty
Support Our Work
Follow this link to donate to support our work.
Our faculty are pursuing groundbreaking discoveries across multiple disciplines, including:
Director, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research
Division Chief, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Gray Lab is using genetics to improve non-invasive prenatal screening and to understand the causes of stillbirth and preeclampsia.
Research Interests: Genetics of adverse pregnancy outcomes (including preeclampsia, stillbirth, and fetal anomalies), advancing prenatal genetic screening and diagnosis, medication use in pregnancy. Find her listed publications here.
Assistant Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Kachikis Lab is studying responses to infections and vaccines during pregnancy, as well as the transfer of maternal antibodies and other immune factors to babies. This work will improve the immune protection of pregnant people and protect newborns from deadly infections.
Research Interests: Preventing pre-term birth, infections & immunizations in pregnancy, global health & health equity. Find her listed publications here.
Assistant Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The McCartney Lab is working to understand the role of immune cells in preventing pregnancy complications — because once we understand the immune system’s role, we can create personalized immune-based treatments for pregnant people.
Research Interests: Placental and reproductive immunology, preeclampsia, preterm birth, recurrent pregnancy loss, biological therapeutics. Find his listed publications here.
Assistant Professor, Maternal-Fetal Medicine
The Shree Lab is studying connections between reproductive history and later-life heart disease and working to create screening tests that will better identify these high-risk pregnancies that increase the risk for heart disease.
Research Interests: Preeclampsia, maternal-fetal communication, reproductive origins of disease, cell-free DNA. Find her listed publications here.
Research Associate Professor, Research Division
The Vojtech Lab is developing new technologies to assess fetal and pregnancy health from easy-to-obtain blood samples
Research Interests: Immune tolerance to pregnancy, circulating biomarkers of pregnancy health, sexually transmitted infections, reproductive and mucosal immunology. Find her listed publications here.
staff
- Sam Rosen, Research Manager
- Maya Pettes, Lead Research Coordinator
- Emmalie Griswold, Research Coordinator
- Sriya Paluvayi, Research Technologist
- Erin Tanaka, Research Technologist
- Claire Truongdang, Research Technologist
UW Medicine Pregnancy Biobank
Contact Us
Biobank Inquiries:
obbiobank@uw.edu
At UW Medicine, the Pregnancy Biobank is paving the way for
safer pregnancies by turning biological samples and clinical data
from thousands of patients into lifesaving discoveries, including:
- Earlier, more accurate diagnoses that give families answers and options.
- Breakthrough therapies that reduce maternal illness and infant mortality.
- Personalized care that helps parents and babies thrive.
Donate
Your gift creates healthier beginnings.
A gift to the Pregnancy Biobank is not just an investment in research — it is an investment in improved maternal health and safer beginnings.
Your generosity will:
- Expand the Pregnancy Biobank — the critical resource for the Maternal Fetal Medicine team that underpins groundbreaking discoveries.
- Accelerate the development of new diagnostics that predict and prevent complications during pregnancy.
- Empower and train the next generation of leaders in maternal health.
Together, we can ensure better outcomes for pregnancies.
To learn more or to make your gift, follow this link or contact: Carly Ralston, Director for Philanthropy, 206.685.4503 carlyr@uw.edu, UW Medicine Advancement.