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In this research seminar, Professor Simmons will provide an overview of:

• developmental programming;
• the role of immune dysfunction in programming; and
• environmental in?uences on programming.

Biography

Professor Simmons serves as Deputy Director of the Center for Excellence in Environment and Toxicology funded by the National Institutes of Health. She is a Principal Investigator of the March of Dimes Preterm Birth Research Center at UPENN and past chair of the Faculty Senate at UPENN. She is Vice-chair for the Committee for Appointments and Promotions, Department of Pediatrics.

Prof Simmons is the principal investigator on 4 federally funded projects which include, “Novel Biomarkers of Preterm Birth”; “Placental Molecular Signature in Preterm Birth”; and “Mechanisms by which IUGR leads to Diabetes”. She was recently awarded an NIH grant: Novel Mechanisms Underlying the Development of Obesity which is focused on the role of extracellular vesicles in placenta development in obese pregnancies. She is also the PrincipaI Investigator for “Preconception phthalate exposure on offspring”.