Craig Bierle, PhD

Infection is a leading cause of pregnancy loss, premature birth, and intellectual disability in children. Viral infection of the placenta can have devastating consequences on intrauterine development, but ethical and technical barriers to studying human pregnancy have limited our understanding of how to prevent or treat these infections. The Bierle Lab draws on expertise in molecular virology, reproductive immunology, and placental biology to study the pathogenesis of cytomegalovirus and other significant causes of congenital infection. By combining cutting-edge models of trophoblast development, in vivo experimentation, and next-generation sequencing technologies, the group aims to understand how maternal infection at different times in pregnancy affects the placenta and developing offspring, using this information to develop immunomodulatory therapies or preventative vaccines.

External Research Support:

Trophoblast development and placental susceptibility to cytomegalovirus infection (NIH NICHD, R01HD109252, PI)
Microbial-induced maternal factors that influence fetal immune development (NIH NICHD, R01HD113192, Co-I)
Optimizing Immunity and Maternal Host Defense Against Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection (NIH NICHD, R01HD098866, Co-I)
Defining the viral determinants of cytomegalovirus transplacental transmission (NIH NICHD, R21HD087496, PI)