Dr Denise Fernandez-Twinn

My research is focused on understanding fundamental mechanisms defining the aetiology of adult metabolic disease which have their origins in exposure to sub-optimal in-utero and postnatal environments. I construct and manage early development models of maternal under- and over-nutrition and am actively involved in preclinical testing of lifestyle and pharmaceutical interventions to the mother. My recent work seeks to understand how pregestational obesity predisposes metabolic and cardiovascular disease in offspring. We use a murine model of maternal obesity during gestation in combination with intervention approaches to uncover underlying mechanisms responsible for adverse programming of offspring metabolic and cardiovascular outcomes. The ultimate aim is to be able to translate this information into the clinic. Recently, I have been investigating maternal metabolic and cardiovascular dysfunction as potential drivers of preeclampsia, placental dysfunction and its consequences for offspring health.