Ashley Solmonson

Ashley Solmonson is a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, leading the Solmonson Lab focused on developmental metabolism and placental biology. Her work explores metabolic changes during pregnancy, placental nutrient transfer, and fetal development using metabolomics, stable isotope tracing, and primary cell culture. Collaborations with the UTSW OB/GYN Department aim to translate findings into clinical improvements for maternal and fetal health.

Education: Ph.D. in Cell and Molecular Biology (2016, University of Texas at Austin); B.S. in Biology (2007, Sam Houston State University). Postdoctoral training with Ralph DeBerardinis at Children's Medical Center Research Institute focused on LIPT1 deficiency and metabolic dysfunction in embryonic development.

Research interests include placental metabolic strategies, fetal-maternal nutrient partitioning, and metabolic disorders in pregnancy. Key findings include distinct metabolic profiles in placenta and fetal tissues, and the role of LIPT1 in developmental defects. Ongoing projects investigate metabolic pathways critical for organogenesis and translational approaches to improve pregnancy outcomes.

Publications highlight metabolic reprogramming in tumors, compartmentalized metabolism in midgestation, and drug repurposing for SARS-CoV-2. The lab's translational focus bridges basic research with clinical applications in maternal-fetal medicine.