Thomas Spencer

Thomas Spencer is a Curators' Distinguished Professor of Animal Sciences at the University of Missouri and serves as Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development. He holds a Ph.D. from Texas A&M University (1995) and completed postdoctoral training at Baylor College of Medicine (1997). His research focuses on uterine and placental biology, including uterine development, placental gene regulation, and reproductive health in livestock and humans.

• Education: Ph.D., Texas A&M University (1995); PostDoc, Baylor College of Medicine (1997)
• Affiliations: Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri Division of Research

Research interests include uterine gland function, endometrial regeneration, and evolutionary aspects of placental development. His lab uses animal models to study reproductive biology, with recent work on bovine placenta genomics and endometriosis mechanisms.

Publications emphasize genomic analyses of reproductive outcomes in cattle, placental gene networks, and uterine disease impacts. Key themes include embryo-maternal interactions, gene regulatory pathways in reproduction, and translational applications to improve animal and human health.

Notable contributions include defining uterine gland roles in pregnancy and identifying genetic factors influencing fertility in livestock. Current projects explore organoid models for uterine biology and microbiome effects on postpartum recovery.