Clinical and Experimental Perinatal Research Group

Group Leader Professor Graham Jenkin

Personal Assistant/Administrative Officer

Jill McFadyean
Phone: 9905 0771

Fetal Development Overview

Researchers

Research Assistant

Higher Degree Students

Group's field of research activities

Research interests include the control of ovarian function; use of new reproductive technologies for preservation of endangered species, the initiation of, and maintenance of early pregnancy; growth, development and well-being of the embryo and fetus (a healthy start to life); role of epigenetics in development; the initiation of normal and premature parturition and its prevention. The study of embryonic, amnion derived, cord blood, Wharton's jelly and adult stem cells and their derivatives for potential drug screening and therapeutic purposes is now a major focus of our research.

We have a major research interest in the maintenance of fetal well being, particularly in pregnancies subject to intra uterine growth restriction and/or infection. Recent research involves the use of fetal models to study stem cell engraftment and differentiation and the interaction of bio- and synthetic matrices and stem cells and their derivatives for the treatment of respiratory diseases and for spinal disc repair.  We are particularly interested in the investigation of the properties of amnion derived epithelial stem cells and their derivatives, their characterisation, differentiation and potential for therapeutic use.

The innate capacity of the fetus to repair and regenerate tissues is being used to develop unique new models of organ and tissue regeneration using stem cells in sheep, in ovo chicks and spiny mouse (Acomys cahirinus) models.  Our research group has developed models of fetal compromise (intrauterine growth restriction), hypoxia-induced brain injury and infection in pregnancy and respiratory compromise associated with premature delivery. It is hoped that this research will enable potential new therapies using novel stem cells, amnion epithelial cells and their derivatives and adult stem cells to be tested in appropriate animal models.  Of particular interest are human amnion derived epithelial stem cells which have many of the characteristics of embryonic stem cells, but which can be obtained without the ethical issues associated with embryonic derived stem cells.  Our group is studying the properties of these cells in vitro and in vivo, their derivation, characteristics including plasticity and their potential therapeutic use in repair of respiratory epithelium, cardiac tissue and neural tissues as well as in spinal disk repair.  We are currently undertaking preclinical and clinical trials on spinal disk repair. This involves development of biomatrices using stem cells and tissue scaffolds in preclinical research projects on bone and cartilage repair.

Clinical and Experimental Perinatal Research Group Lab Photo

Recent Publications

1.    Goldschlager T, Rosenfeld J, Jenkin G and Ghosh P (2009) Chondrogenic differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells. ANZ J of Surgery (in press).
2.    Miller SL, Supramaniam VG, Jenkin G, Walker DW, Wallace EM (2009) Cerebrovascular responses to maternal betamethasone administration in the intrauterine growth restricted (IUGR) ovine fetus. Obstet & Gynec. (In press).
3.    Jenkin G, Challis JRG, Robinson JS and Young IR (2009) Geoffrey Donald Thorburn 1930-1996. Hist. Records of Aust Sci 20: 109-130.
4.    Miller SL, Loose JM, Jenkin GM and Wallace EM (2009) The effects of sildenafil citrate (Viagra) on uterine blood flow and wellbeing in the intrauterine growth restricted fetus. Amer J Obstet & Gynae. 200:102.e1-102.e7.
5.    Dickinson H, Griffiths T, Walker DA and Jenkin G (2008) Application of clinical indices of fetal growth and wellbeing to a novel laboratory species, the spiny mouse. Reprod Biol 8: 229-243.
6.    Jones GM, Cram DS, Song B, Magli MC, Gianaroli L, Lacham-Kaplan O, Findlay JK, Jenkin G and Trounson AO (2008) Gene expression profiling of human oocytes following in vivo or in vitro maturation. Hum Reprod 23: 1138-1144.
7.    Rodricks C, Gibbs M, Jenkin G and Miller S (2008) The effect of hypoxia at different embryonic ages on impairment of memory ability in chicks. Int J Devl Neurosci 26: 113-118.
8.    Miller S, Chai M, Loose J, Castillo-Melendez M, Walker DW, Jenkin G and  Wallace EM (2007) The effects of maternal betamethasone administration on the intrauterine growth-restricted fetus. Endocrinology. 148: 1288-95.
9.    Rodericks CL, Miller SL, Jenkin G and Gibbs M (2006) The role of corticosterone in prenatally-induced memory deficits. Brain Research. 1123: 34-41.
10.    Yang H, Cox S-L, Jenkin G, Findlay J, Trounson A and Shaw J (2006) Graft site and gonadotrophin stimulation influences on the number and quality of oocytes from murine ovarian tissue grafts. Reproduction 131: 851-859.
11.    Supramaniam VG, Jenkin G, Loose J, Wallace EM and Miller SL (2006) Chronic fetal hypoxia increases activin A concentrations in the late pregnant sheep. British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 113: 102-109.
12.    McLaren WJ, Bott EM, Jenkin G and Young IR (2006) Detection of morphological changes of the ovine cervix in response to sex steroids using a fluorescence confocal endomicroscope. Obstetrics and Gynaecology 194: 105-112.

Grants Awarded