Janna Morrison

Research Interests Professor Morrison’s research uses a range of models and analytical techniques to investigate how the physiological environment from before conception and during pregnancy can contribute to a range of conditions in adulthood such as cardiovascular disease, asthma, obesity and diabetes. Functional studies of blood pressure regulation and glucose tolerance are linked to the molecular signaling pathways that regulated these events. We are one of few groups internationally that uses MRI to measure fetal hemodynamics, fetal oxygenation and fetal cardiac function in preclinical models and relates these findings to organ specific molecular signalling. Research Synopsis: Research Interests: Current research focusses on how the fetal cardiovascular system responds to changes in nutrient supply before conception and during pregnancy. Prof Morrison uses Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to measure blood flow and oxygen saturation in the fetus and then links this data to the molecular signaling pathways that control cardiac growth. She also studies how the fetus regulates its blood pressure to maintain adequate perfusion to organs to promote optimal growth and development. More recently, she has looked at the other end of the spectrum, the effects of maternal obesity on heart development. Keywords: fetal growth restriction, fetal development, artificial placenta, cardiac proliferation and repair, blood pressure regulation METHODS USED Procedures: Blood pressure studies, fetal MRI, gene/protein expression and localisation, fetal surgery EQUIPMENT USED MRI, PowerLab, blood gas machine, PCR.