Loren P. Thompson

Loren P. Thompson, PhD, is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, Baltimore, with primary affiliation in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences and a secondary appointment in Physiology. Her research focuses on fetal cardiovascular adaptations to hypoxia and long-term health consequences.

• B.A., Biology, Augustana College, 1977
• M.S., Physiology, University of Minnesota, 1979
• Ph.D., Physiology, Michigan State University, 1984

Thompson's work investigates how intrauterine hypoxia triggers oxygen-sensitive gene expression (e.g., HIF-1, VEGF), alters mitochondrial function, and impacts placental development. Her studies use pregnant guinea pig models to explore vascular reactivity, cardiomyocyte respiration, and molecular pathways linking fetal stress to adult disease risks.

Key trends in her publications include chronic hypoxia effects on fetal hearts, oxidative stress in programming, and placental trophoblast invasion. These studies employ qPCR, Western blot, and mitochondrial assays to analyze adaptive/maladaptive responses.

• Excellence in Teaching Award, Dept. of Physiology, UMB SOM (2007-12)

Thompson has mentored NIH-funded projects and secured seed grants for fetal cardiac biomarker research. Her lab collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to study cardiovascular programming and placental perfusion dynamics.