Investigating the role of uterine macrophages during the menstrual cycle and early pregnancy

The human endometrium (uterus lining) is a highly regenerative tissue which undergoes dynamic changes throughout the menstrual cycle, embryo implantation and early pregnancy. Facilitating these transformations requires complex crosstalk between structural cell populations such as stromal, epithelial and endothelial cells, and immune cells populations. Macrophages are innate immune cells that play important and dynamic roles during reproductive cycles and early pregnancy in mouse models, however our understanding in humans is relatively poor in comparison. The aim of this project is to elucidate these complex interactions between macrophages and resident structural cells in the human uterus, and to reveal how these interactions facilitate tissue remodelling, embryo implantation and pregnancy progression to maintain reproductive health and prevent poor pregnancy outcomes.