Ritu Dave

Program: Molecular Genetics and Genomics

Current advisor: Antonina Frolova, MD, PhD

Undergraduate university: Washington University, 2022

Enrollment year: 2023

Research summary
Characterizing the cellular and genetic features of bioengineered human myometrial constructs.

The human myometrium contracts during labor to facilitate delivery and after labor to prevent excessive bleeding. In instances where the myometrium’s contractions are absent or irregular, patients can have complications in delivery necessitating a caesarean section or experience post-partum hemorrhage. Because of these risks, there is a need to better understand regulators of myometrial contractility. To study this we are generating bioengineered myometrial constructs to better understand the effects of different genes and cell types on myometrial contractility. In order to validate this model of the human myometrium, we will benchmark these constructs against primary human myometrial tissue. In doing these we will assess the cellular and genetic similarities between primary myometrial tissues and bioengineered constructs. This work will generate a new tool to allow for the evaluation of different genetic and microenvironment regulators of myometrial contractility.

Graduate publications