Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri

Dr. Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri is a researcher at the University of Cambridge, specializing in maternal-fetal communication and placental biology. She was awarded the 2020 Hans Sigrist Prize for her groundbreaking work on the placenta's role in pregnancy success and lifelong health outcomes. Her research focuses on how environmental factors, such as maternal nutrition and stress, influence placental development and fetal growth, with implications for conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Dr. Sferruzzi-Perri employs animal models (e.g., mice) to study placental signaling and its effects on maternal and fetal health, emphasizing the need for early intervention strategies.

Education: She holds a Bachelor of Science and an Honors degree from the University of Adelaide, followed by a Ph.D. in pregnancy research. Her work bridges basic science and translational medicine, aiming to improve clinical outcomes for mothers and children.

Collaborations: She collaborates with Prof. Christiane Albrecht of the University of Bern, combining human cell studies with animal models to advance understanding of placental dysfunction. The Hans Sigrist Prize funds will support interdisciplinary projects and sample-sharing initiatives to accelerate discoveries in this under-researched field.

Research Goals: Her lab investigates placental hormones as biomarkers for pregnancy health and explores how placental signaling impacts maternal cardiovascular and metabolic systems. She advocates for increased funding to address the neglected area of pregnancy-related research, emphasizing prevention over treatment.