Reproductive Health Science Work-In-Progress: October 21, 2026
A partnership with the Interdisciplinary Reproduction and Health Group.
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Reproduction Health Work-In-Progress Seminar
Date: Wednesday, October 21, 2026, 4-5 p.m.
Location:
Roy Blunt NextGen Precision Health Building
Atkins Family Seminar Room
Hosted by:
Ciro Amato, PhD
In person only
"Modeling Early-Onset Preeclampsia with Trophoblast Stem Cells Derived from Patients"
 | Speaker: Mentor: Laura Schulz, PhD |
About the Speaker
My research focuses on developing patient-derived trophoblast stem cell models to study placental development and early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE). I am particularly interested in how cellular reprogramming history influences trophoblast characteristics and how this knowledge can improve model interpretation and help identify robust EOPE-associated signatures.
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"Uterine-Specific Pten and Trim28 Co-Deletion Drives Aggressive and Metastatic Endometrial Cancer"
 | Speaker: Mentor: Jae-Wook Jeong, PhD |
About the Speaker
We investigated whether combined loss of PTEN and TRIM28 promotes aggressive and metastatic endometrial cancer (EC). While uterine-specific Pten deletion induces endometrial tumor development, it rarely leads to distant metastasis. In contrast, combined Pten and Trim28 deletion resulted in rapid tumor progression, significantly reduced survival, extensive myometrial invasion, and lymph node metastasis in 100% of mice. By 3 months, metastatic tumors were also detected in the lungs, which were absent in Pten single-mutant mice. These findings demonstrate that TRIM28 loss cooperates with PTEN deficiency to drive aggressive, invasive, and metastatic EC, providing a clinically relevant model to investigate mechanisms of metastasis and identify potential therapeutic targets.
About the IRHG Seminar Series
The goal of the Interdisciplinary Reproduction & Health Group (IRHG) Seminar Series is to highlight transdisciplinary precision research taking place in the reproductive health field, provide opportunities for collaboration among researchers to build their own research efforts and promote clinical/researcher activity across the University of Missouri System and our partners.
The IRHG was organized and established through a faculty-driven, grass roots effort in 2016 to develop an integrative interdisciplinary program that transcends traditional departmental, college and system boundaries to foster excellence in reproduction, health research and education at Mizzou.
View all upcoming Reproductive Health events on the IRHG Seminar Series website.
For questions about this event, please reach out to Ciro Amato and the NextGen Engagement team.
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