OBGYN Researchers

• Kammala, Ananth

  
  Ananth Kumar Kammala PHD
  Assistant Professor
  Obstetrics and Gynecology

  My interest in research began as an undergraduate student in Pharmaceutical sciences while in the pharmacology lab recording smooth muscle contractions. However, it was not until I started my master’s in pharmacology that the desire to understand the basic mechanisms of drug actions and different phases of drug development took off. My passion was to establish pharmacokinetic parameters of ayurvedic formulations of the Indian system of medicine. Later, I had an opportunity with Traditional Chinese medicine at Hong Kong Baptist University. I have worked in Immunology to understand the mechanism of mast cells responses in Anaphylaxis and Allergic asthma at Michigan State University. Dr. Menon's Lab provided me with an amazing opportunity to establish the pharmacokinetic parameters for the exosomes which is a novel drug delivery system to treat preterm birth delivery. This research will allow for a better understanding of novel drug therapeutics which crosses the blood-brain barrier or blood-placenta barrier and provide the foundation for the development of novel therapies for preterm birth.

  BIO  |  RESEARCH

• Menon, Ramkumar
  

  Ramkumar Menon, PhD
  Professor
  Obstetrics and Gynecology

  Various projects in my lab are designed to understand the pathobiology of preterm birth. We study mechanism of fetal tissue aging, feto-maternal cell signaling using state of the art organ-on-chip technology and intercellular communication by extracellular vesicles (EVs). We are also conducting preclinical trials to reduce preterm birth risk using drugs delivered using EVs.  Research
• Richardson, Lauren
  

  Lauren Richardson, PhD
  Assistant Professor
  Obstetrics and Gynecology

  My research focuses on bridging the gap between bench-to-bedside research by merging advanced engineering and biology concepts. The goal of my research is twofold. One, to utilize microfluidic devices to collect underutilized biological fluids for biomarker screening, and two, to develop novel organ-on-chip devices that physiologically recreate in utero organs and organ systems. These devices are primed to replace traditional research approaches, limit animal models for research, and speed up preclinical experiments to get the drugs to clinical trials at a much faster pace.
    Research

• Taylor, Brandie DePaoli
  
  

  Brandie DePaoli Taylor PHD
  Professor

  Our research is focused on understanding the interplay between placental microvesicles, the maternal immune system and preeclampsia.  Our goal is to incorporate biomarker data in epidemiologic investigations to improve preeclampsia subtype discrimination. In addition, we conduct research focused on the impact of common sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium on pregnancy loss and adverse pregnancy outcomes.  RESEARCH

• Vincent, Kathleen
  

  Kathleen Vincent, MD
  Professor
  Obstetrics and Gynecology

  Our research focuses on application of biomedical engineering technologies to women’s health research.  I utilize imaging from the cellular level to whole body imaging for the study of maternal-fetal health, obesity, benign gynecologic disorders, bacterial vaginosis, and vaginal drug delivery.  Additionally, I collaborate with women’s health researchers to bring novel technologies into their field of research.   Research