DrVassoTerzidou

Summary

 

Vasso Terzidou is a Clinical Reader (Associate Professor) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital. 

She leads the prematurity services for Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London and her principal research interests are the biochemistry and endocrinology of human labour and the prediction and prevention of preterm birth and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

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The principal areas of her research are examining

-Causes underlying uterine biology leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and fetal growth disorders.

-Investigation of circulating microRNAs and their diagnostic application for preterm birth prediction as well as understanding the mechanism by which uterine microRNAs can modulate inflammatory pathways in the uterus.

-Investigation of circulating microRNAs and their diagnostic application for early identification of other pregnancy complications such as growth restriction.

-Investigation of circulating microRNAs and their diagnostic application for early identification of miscarriages, pregnancies of unknown location and ectopic pregnancies

-Collaboration with Imperial College Bioengineering Department for the development of a bedside test for detection of circulating miRNAs to predict pregnancy complications.

-Large-scale validation studies of miRNA biomarkers for early detection of subsequent preterm birth in low-risk population.

-OT/OT receptor modulation for management of term and preterm labour.

-GPCR activity in pregnancy and labour, including interactions of oxytocin and prostaglandin receptors to identify a multi-target therapeutic strategy that controls myometrial contractility and uterine inflammation.

-Development and testing of novel tocolytics through industrial collaboration partnerships.

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MicroRNA Biomarkers to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes theme

• Early identification of circulating microRNAs in blood that are highly predictive of subsequent preterm birth and cervical shortening (European and International Patent granted). There is an urgent need for a test to predict women who will subsequently deliver preterm. These women can receive targeted antenatal surveillance and prophylactic interventions. (ie progesterone or cervical cerclage).
• Identification of circulating microRNAs able to predict pregnancy complications such as growth restriction (Patent granted)
• Identification of circulating microRNAs able to differentiate early pregnancy complications such as miscarriages, pregnancies of unknown location and ectopic pregnancies (Patent filed)
• Collaboration with Imperial Bioengineering Department (Dr Sylvain Ladame) to develop a bedside miRNA detection test to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes.
• Currently conducting large-scale validation studies of microRNAs biomarkers of preterm birth in a low-risk population with 3800 women recruited (PROPER study- funded by March of Dimes).
• Collaboration with Professor Henrik Hagberg- a validation study of microRNAs biomarkers of preterm birth in a Swedish cohort of low-risk women (11036 women with 411 women delivering <37 weeks).
• Currently conducting large-scale validation of miRNA biomarkers for prediction of SGA babies.
• Validation of miRNA biomarkers for prediction of miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies, and early pregnancy complications (Collaboration with Professor Tom Bourne)
• Functional studies to define the origin and understand the biological basis of action for these miRNA biomarkers.

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Uterine Biology- GPCR-OT/OTR function

OTR/PG interactions and discovery of novel tocolytics

• OT/OTR has a well-defined role in stimulating uterine contractions via calcium signalling and my work has demonstrated of a novel pro-inflammatory role for oxytocin driving the sequential activation of MAPKs and NF-κB via OTR-G_αi coupling. Atosiban (an OTR antagonist-currently used as a tocolytic) activates pro- inflammatory pathways and this could have an effect upon the fetus in preterm labour in the presence of chorioamnionitis.
• Her work has provided initial evidence of OTR dimerization/ oligomerization. An interaction via crosstalk mechanism between OTR and PG receptors is important in GPCR biology as it can facilitate identification of multi-target therapeutic strategies for preterm labour and labour induction. 

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Selected Publications

Journal Articles

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