Rohan Lewis Gerald Kerkut

Professor Rohan Lewis Gerald Kerkut is a Professor of Placental and Integrative Physiology at the University of Southampton’s Faculty of Medicine. His research focuses on placental function, fetal development, and evolutionary adaptations of placental structures. He employs advanced 3D imaging, computational modeling, and interdisciplinary collaboration to study placental mechanisms and their long-term health impacts.

His work includes investigations into nanopore structures in the placenta, placental transport of nutrients, and the role of vitamin D in placental health. He has led multiple projects funded by organizations like the BBSRC, MRC, and the Gerald Kerkut Charitable Trust. Key research themes include placental evolution, endometrial function, and the developmental origins of health and disease.

Professor Lewis is a Fellow of The Physiological Society (2017) and actively contributes to academic teaching in medical physiology and placental biology. He leads the Placental Research Laboratory and participates in large-scale studies such as the Southampton Women’s Survey.

• Teaching Roles: Physiology modules for medical students (BM4/BM5/BM6), placental biology courses (BIOL 3044, MRes in Evolution).
• External Roles: Council Member of the International Federation of Placenta Associations, keynote speaker at multiple conferences on placental imaging and modeling.
• Funding: Projects include BBSRC grants on placental transport mechanisms and MRC support for modeling placental dysfunction in fetal growth restriction.
• Labs/Teams: Directs the Placental Research Laboratory, collaborating with experts in engineering, mathematics, and physics to integrate imaging and computational approaches.