Office Address

C.S. Mott Center
275 E. Hancock

Position Title

Assistant Professor-Obstetrics and Gynecology

Narrative Bio

I am not accepting any new students at this time.

Research

My research utilizes molecular and transgenic approaches to target my investigational interests in the field of reproductive endocrinology and physiology. A common thread in my projects is the nuclear receptor function. I have recently focused on the characterization and functional analysis of alternate ERα isoforms, which I propose play a critical role in regulating estrogen (E2) responsiveness in a spatial and gestationally regulated manner in the myometrial compartment of the pregnant uterus. This study has currently expanded to define the splicing mechanisms and factors that ultimately change the functionality of single genes to produce proteins of very different and sometimes contrary functions as they relate to the pregnant uterine myocyte. My focus in these studies is to understand the mechanisms that control the timing of labor and to ultimately explain the phenomenon of preterm birth.

My second research focus has been dedicated to understanding maternal fetal signalling with respect to the phenomena of imprinting, fetal growth and the timing of labor. To this end a trangenic approach was developed in my lab, using a conditional Cre-Lox strategy, where specific genes are functionally ablated in all fetuses while the maternal genome remains somatically normal. This strategy will be also used to target genes involved in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) to ultimately study preeclampsia.

I have had a long standing interest in sexual determination/differentiation, gonadal development and spermatogenesis. My previous work in the function of steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1, AD4BP, NR5A1) in Leydig cells using a tissue specific knockout strategy has led to identifying the developmental and functional significance of SF-1 in Sertoli cells in the testis. Our initial findings are that SF-1 is crucial for Sertoli cell survival and proliferation during development.

Publications

For a complete list of publications, please visit Suria PubMed

Post Graduate Training

1997-2000 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Internal Medicine

2000-2004 Postdoctoral Fellow, University of texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Biochemistry

• 1996 Graduate student representative of the fitness association, Center of Marine Biotechnology, MD
• 1995 Graduate student representative of the parking and safety committee, Center of Marine Biotechnology, MD
• 1993-95 Maryland Sea Grant Trainee
• 1993 Winner of poster award at the Annual Biotechnology Symposium of the Maryland Biotechnology Institute, Center for Advanced Research in Biotechnology, Shady Grove, MD

Education

1997 - Ph.D. in Marine Estuarine, Environmental Science, Unviersity of Maryland

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