Laird, Susan - Sheffield Hallam University - Department of Biosciences and Chemistry

个人简介

I was appointed as a lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University after completing a BSc in Biochemistry at Edinburgh University and a PhD at London University. I have taught physiology, immunology and advanced cell biology. I am an internationally known researcher in the area of Reproductive Biology. I also work closely with the Royal Society of Biology on the accreditation of degree courses.

研究领域

Human endometrial function in health and disease The role of the endometrium is to accept the implanting embryo; endometrial dysfunction can therefore lead to infertility and recurrent miscarriage. I study the physiology and pathology of the human endometrium, including the role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in endometrial function and the role of the endometrium in recurrent miscarriage and implantation failure. The role of cytokines in endometrial function Cytokines are known to play an important role in the control of endometrial function. We are therefore using immunocytochemical, RT-PCR and western blot analysis to investigate the menstrual cycle dependent expression of cytokines and their receptors in the endometrium. A particular interest is in the cytokines, leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and interleukin 11, as experiments in knock out mice have suggested that these are particularly important in embryo implantation. More recent work has involved looking at the expression of chemokines especially CXCL12. The expression of these proteins in the endometrium of normal fertile women and women who suffer recurrent miscarriage or implantation failure after IVF is being compared. Further studies using primary endometrial cell culture systems and human endometrial cell lines are being carried out to investigate the effects that these molecules have on endometrial function. In addition, we are investigating the intracellular signaling pathways from cytokine and chemokine receptors in endometrial cells. The expression of leukocyte populations in women with recurrent miscarriage The endometrium contains a specialist population of leucocytes, in particular a population of uterine natural killer (uNK) cells which are different from those in peripheral blood and are thought to play a role in implantation. We are investigating the numbers of these cells in the endometrium of fertile women and women with recurrent miscarriage or implantation failure after IVF. We are also working with other groups to develop a reproducible method to measure uNK which may be of use in clinical practice.

近期论文

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LAIRD, Susan (2016). Local endometrial trauma (Endometrial scratch): a treatment strategy to improve implantation rates. Technical Report. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. LAIRD, Susan (2016). The role of natural killer cells in human fertility. Technical Report. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. LASH, Gendie E., BULMER, Judith N., LI, Tin Chiu, INNES, Barbara A., MARIEE, Najat, PATEL, Gnyaneshwari, SANDERSON, Jean, QUENBY, Siobhan and LAIRD, Susan (2016). Standardisation of uterine natural killer (uNK) cell measurements in the endometrium of women with recurrent reproductive failure. Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 116, 50-59. WONG, Alice Wai Yee, ARCHER, Bethan, MARIEE, Najat, LI, Tin Chiu and LAIRD, Susan M. (2014). Do uterine natural killer cell numbers in peri-implantation endometrium predict hypertensive disorder in pregnancy in women with a history of reproductive failure? Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 106, 34-40. LIU, Beiyu, MARIEE, Najat, LAIRD, Susan, SMITH, John, LI, Jie and LI, T.C. (2014). The prognostic value of uNK cell count and histological dating in the mid-luteal phase of women with reproductive failure. European Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, 181, 171-175. WONG, Alice Wai Yee, ARCHER, Bethan, MARIEE, Najat, LI, Tin Chiu and LAIRD, Susan (2014). Do uterine natural killer cell numbers in peri-implantation endometrium predict hypertensive disorder in pregnancy in women with a history of reproductive failure? Journal of Reproductive Immunology, 106 (1), 34-40.