The Menon Labratory
Perinatal Research

Director: Dr. Ramkumar Menon, PhD
The Menon laboratory is primarily interested in studying feto-maternal communications associated with maintenance of pregnancy and initiation of labor and delivery (parturition). The lab studies various aspects of fetal responses using fetal membrane (amniochorionic membrane/placental membrane) as a model. Over 30 years, The Menon laboratory has studied changes in fetal membranes in response to various endogenous and exogenous factors and developed pathways and biomarkers associated with human parturition.

Notes

  • The Menon lab welcomes Giovanna Bento (Ph.D. student, Brazil) and Manuel Vidal (MD/PhD student (U of Philippines)
  • Dr. Enkhtuya Radnaa is promoted as Assistant Professor at UTMB’s OBGYN Department and will be a part of the Menon lab.
  • The Menon lab welcomes Ryan Lintao, and Mary Elise Severino MD, PhD students from the University of the Philippines!!
  • The Menon lab presented 12 abstracts (10 posters and 2 oral presentations) at the SRI 2022, Denver, CO
  • Dr. Menon is the lead author and presenter of a late-breaking abstract that was accepted for Oral presentation at SRI, 2022, Denver, CO
  • Dr. Lauren Richardson received IHII, 2022 Grant Award from UTMB to test fetal inflammatory response using an organ on a chip
  • Angela Mosebarger, Ph.D. Student in the Menon lab receives Blackstone Launchpad Award for the best presentation of work that will result in a new product, service, or intervention to improve health in the T1-T4 in 3 Competition.
  • The Menon lab receives Two poster awards at SRI 2022 (Denver, March 2022)
    • Dr. Enkhtuya Radnaa and Dr. Brett Goldman won Best Poster Wards for a young investigator

News

  • Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Richardson

    August 17, 2023, 16:24 PM by UTMB News


    Congratulations to Dr. Lauren Richardson on being selected as one of only 4 podium speakers at the annual meeting this year. There are 76 BIRCWH scholars in the US so this is a huge honor!

    Her research focuses on bridging the gap between bench-to-bedside research by merging advanced engineering and biology concepts. The goal is 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.

    Congrats!

     

  • New Webinar - Effect of Flame Retardant and other Oxidative stress inducers on Pregnancy Outcome

    November 18, 2021, 08:52 AM by Menon,

    Polybromated diethyl ether(s) (PBDEs) have been in widespread use as flame retardant for decades with greatest consumption in the United States. PBDEs bioaccumulate in lipophilic tissues through ingestion of contaminated food commodities or household dust and recent reports showed their presence of PBDE in amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, cord plasma, placenta and fetal membranes. During this webinar, Dr. Ramkumar Menon discussed his research looking at accumulation of PBDE in various reproductive tissues, which has been associated with preterm birth. Mechanistically, PBDE causes reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation from fetal tissues causing oxidative stress induced damage. ROS results in stress signaler p38 mitogen activated protein kinase generation and senescence (mechanism of aging) and senescence associated inflammatory conditions during pregnancy. Premature aging of fetal tissues by PBDE is one of the effectors of preterm birth. Reducing p38MAPK activation and minimizing the impact of senescence is one of the ways to mitigate PBDE associated preterm birth.

    This webinar is one in a monthly series sponsored by the Collaborative on Health and the Environment’s EDC Strategies Partnership. The CHE EDC Strategies Partnership is chaired by Sharyle Patton (Commonweal Biomonitoring Resource Center), Jerry Heindel (Commonweal HEEDS, Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies), Genon Jensen (HEAL), Sarah Howard (DiabetesandEnvironment.org), and Hannah Donart (Collaborative on Health and the Environment, a Commonweal program). To see a full list of past calls and webinars related to EDCs and listen to or view recordings, please visit our partnership page.

    This webinar was moderated by Jerry Heindel, PhD, founder and director of Commonweal's Healthy Environment and Endocrine Disruptor Strategies (HEEDS). It lasted for 30 minutes and was recorded for our call and webinar archive.


To learn more about our research and other activities or to join the lab, please contact Talar Kechichian takechic@UTMB.EDU (Lab/Business manager)