Our Board
President
Claire Kendal-Wright
(PhD)
Dr. Kendal-Wright's, an associate professor at Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii, focuses on the role of inflammation in human fetal membrane weakening and is currently funded by the Hawaii Community Foundation and NICHD. She primarily works with both epithelial and mesenchymal cells isolated from the fetal membrane and is particularly interested in how sterile inflammation is initiated in/by these cells to drive the breakdown of this tissue layer leading to its rupture.
Vice-President
Shajila Siricilla
(PhD)
Dr. Shajila Siricilla is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Neonatology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Her research focuses on identifying novel therapeutic agents to manage infection-induced preterm birth (specifically PPROM) and protect the fetus against in-utero inflammation. She employs large-scale screening of customized molecule libraries targeting the druggable transcriptome associated with infection-induced inflammation leading to preterm birth.
Treasurer
John Moore
(MD, PhD)
Dr Moore heads the Division of Neonatology at Case Western Reserve and holds a keen interest on the correlation of the mechanical properties of the fetal membranes with biochemical characteristics. In particular, he and his team have pioneered the use of biomechanics as a tool to tease out important biochemical reactions related to fetal membrane weakening and rupture. Dr Moore's research interests lie in the understanding of fetal membrane rupture and preterm premature rupture, as well as therapeutic agents, such as alpha lipoic acid, to inhibit the necessary pathways.
Secretary General
Tina Chowdhury
(BSc, MSc, PhD, PGCAP, SFHEA)
Dr. Tina Chowdhury, a Reader in Regenerative Medicine at Queen Mary University of London, is a pioneering research focused on repairing fetal membranes to prevent preterm prelabor rupture of the membrane (PPROM), a significant cause of preterm birth. Her team has identified the protein connexin 43 (Cx43) as a key factor in the impaired healing of fetal membrane, discovering that reducing Cx43 levels can enhance tissue repair processes. Utilizing advanced bioengineering tools, they have developed innovative methods to test and understand the mechanical and biological mechanisms involved in fetal membrane healing.
Social Media Liaison
Ananth kumar Kammala
(M.Pharm, Ph.D)
Dr. Ananth Kumar Kammala is an Assistant Professor at The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston. His research focuses on developing innovative therapeutic strategies to prevent preterm birth, particularly through the use of engineered extracellular vesicles (EVs) to inhibit the NF-κB pathway, aiming to mitigate inflammation-induced preterm labor. Dr. Kammala is also involved in creating organ-on-chip models that replicate human feto-maternal interfaces, enhancing drug testing and understanding of pregnancy-related complications. His collaborative efforts extend to the establishment of a translational center for women’s and pregnancy health research, reflecting his commitment to advancing maternal-fetal medicine.
Strategic Advisor
Lauren Richardson
(Ph.D)
Dr. Richardson's research focuses on bridging the gap between bench-to-bedside research by merging advanced engineering and biology concepts. The goal of her 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. With these devices she specifically focuses on modeling fetal membrane biology and pathology.