Michael J. Soares, Ph.D.

Professional Background

Dr. Soares received his undergraduate degree from California State University, Chico and his doctoral degree from the University of Hawaii. He received postdoctoral training at the University of California, Santa Cruz and Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Soares is currently a University Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas Medical Center, with appointments in the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also serves as Director of the Institute for Reproduction and Perinatal Research at the University of Kansas and Director of the Center for Perinatal Research at the Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Mercy Kansas City. Dr. Soares’ research program focuses on regulatory processes associated with pregnancy, especially events controlling the development of the hemochorial placenta.

• BA, California St. U.-Chico
• PhD, Univ. of Hawaii-Honolulu

Research

Overview

Our laboratory investigates specialized survival strategies used by the embryo as it grows within the mother's womb. Central to the embryo's survival is the formation of an organ derived from the embryo called the placenta. This organ gains access to the maternal blood supply and facilitates the delivery of nutrients to the fetus. We study how early stem cells develop into the placenta. We have learned that the placenta is built in response to cues present in the maternal environment; and diseases of pregnancy, such as preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction, result when the embryo is not successful in its adaptations to the maternal environment. Inadequate in utero adaptive responses have potentially long-lasting impacts on adult health and disease. For more information on our research, please visit the Soares Lab website.