Jun Lei

Jun Lei, MD, PhD, is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. She is an active, tenure-track faculty member whose research focuses on understanding and preventing adverse perinatal outcomes caused by maternal infection and inflammation.

Education & Training

• 1995 – MD, Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China
• 2002 – MS, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, China
• 2006 – PhD, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Tongji Medical College, China
• 2007–2011 – Post-doctoral Fellowship, Department of Neurosciences, University of Toledo
• 2011–2013 – Post-doctoral Fellowship, Department of Biochemistry & Cancer Biology, University of Toledo
• 2013–2017 – Post-doctoral Fellowship, Department of Gynecology & Obstetrics, Johns Hopkins University

Research Interests

Dr. Lei’s laboratory investigates the immunological and molecular mechanisms underlying maternal infection- and inflammation-associated adverse fetal outcomes. Her work spans placental immunology, fetal brain injury, and preterm birth prevention. She employs stem-cell-based interventions, nanomedicine platforms, and sophisticated mouse models to dissect how maternal immune activation disrupts placental function and fetal neurodevelopment. Recent projects target Zika virus, cytokine modulation, and targeted RNA therapies to mitigate inflammation-driven pregnancy complications.

Scientific Awards

• Dr. John Gusdon Memorial New Investigator Award for Basic Science, American Society for Reproductive Immunology
• NIH Young Investigator Award
• President’s Presenter’s Award, Society for Reproductive Investigation

Grants & Funding

Dr. Lei currently serves as Co-Investigator (10 % effort) on two active NIH R01 grants totaling over $1.2 million annually:

• IL-1β regulation of Zika-mediated adverse perinatal outcomes (R01HD097608, NICHD, 2018–2023)
• Nanomedicine approaches for prevention of inflammation-induced preterm birth (R01HD1031240, NICHD, 2021–2026)
• Previously led a $50,000 Baverman Reproductive Immunology Research Grant as PI and completed an NIH/NINDS R21 exploring MRI characterization of embryonic brain injury.

Laboratory & Affiliations

Dr. Lei is affiliated with the Integrated Research Center for Fetal Medicine and maintains active memberships in the Society for Reproductive Investigation and the American Society for Reproductive Immunology. Her laboratory is located at 655 W. Baltimore St., BRB 11-015, Baltimore, MD 21201.