Khursheed Iqbal

Our research focuses on the cellular and molecular processes underlying implantation, embryonic development, and placentation, with an emphasis on interactions between the conceptus and the maternal environment.

Embryonic development represent a highly sensitive window during pregnancy, during which tightly coordinated developmental and signaling events are especially vulnerable to external perturbations. We are particularly interested in how environmental challenges, including pathogens, toxins, and nutritional imbalance, disrupt cellular signaling and regulatory networks at the maternal-fetal interface. We define how these stressors alter gene regulation, immune pathways, and cell-cell communication, ultimately shaping pregnancy establishment, placental function, and pregnancy outcome.

To address these questions, we use a combination of in vitro and in vivo approaches, integrating molecular, cellular, and genomic analyses. Our research spans multiple model systems, including large animals, rodents, and human-derived in vitro models, allowing us to investigate both conserved and species-specific regulatory pathways involved in early pregnancy and placental development.