Description of Research Expertise

I have an interest in fetal development as it relates to the potential understanding of and fetal intervention for congenital anomalies. Specifically, I have had a deep interest and significant experience evaluating in utero hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the murine and canine model. These studies provide interesting information and address basic questions on the development of the fetal hematopoietic niche. One of the main goals of my research is a better understanding of the barriers to successful allogeneic in utero bone marrow transplantation. Allogeneic in utero bone marrow transplantation would allow for nonmyeloablative unmatched transplants without the need for immunosuppression and thus holds significant clinical promise for the treatment of hemoglobinopathies, such as Sickle Cell disease.