Contact Information

Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology

Thier Building, Floor 9
60 Blossom Street
Boston, MA  02114

Email: aedlow@mgh.harvard.edu

Explore This Lab

    Overview

    Andrea Edlow, MD, MsC, is a member of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Faculty at Harvard Medical School and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

    The laboratory of Andrea Edlow, MD, MSc, at Massachusetts General Hospital investigates the effects of maternal immune activation on fetal brain development and offspring behavior, and how these effects are modified by placental immune activation and fetal sex.  Our work focuses on pre-clinical models (rodent) of maternal diet-induced obesity, and translational work with maternal COVID-19 infection in pregnancy.

    Our lab was one of the first to use amniotic fluid supernatant and umbilical cord blood to investigate real-time fetal brain development in obese human pregnancy.

    Gene expression profiling of these two biofluids identified abnormal gene expression signatures in fetuses of obese women, highlighting dysregulated brain development and increased inflammation.

    Using a validated mouse model of maternal diet-induced obesity, we have demonstrated significant sex differences in the impact of maternal obesity on embryonic brain development, catecholamine neurotransmitter signaling, and offspring neurobehavior.

    Maternal diet during pregnancy and lactation also significantly influences in utero brain development and offspring behavior.

    Ultimately, we anticipate this work will provide targets for a lifestyle/behavioral intervention, and possibly for prenatal therapies that could be given orally to obese pregnant women, to reverse or ameliorate deleterious structural and functional changes.

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, our lab pivoted to expand our focus to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy. Partnering with a multi-disciplinary team, we have worked across the Mass General Brigham system to establish one of the largest COVID-19 Pregnancy Biorepositories in the country. Through these samples generously provided by enrolled participants, we have generated key insights into maternal immune response, vertical transmission and placental antibody transfer.

    Recent work on COVID-19

    In the News

    Review: COVID-19 Vaccination in Pregnancy and Lactation: Current Research and Gaps in Understanding – Front. Cell. Infect. Microbiol. – Sept. 16, 2021

    Podcast: Women’s Health: Fertile Ground for COVID Myths / Andrea Edlow, Stephanie Gaw, Alice Lu-Culligan, Leena Mithal, Steve Stecklow – EPIDEMIC with Dr. Celine Grounder

    COVID-19 Vaccination During Pregnancy Likely Benefits Moms and Babies – NICHD – Sept. 13, 2021

    COVID vaccine effective in pregnant women –The Naked Scientist (BBC) – April 20, 2021

    More Signs COVID Shots Are Safe for Pregnant Women – WebMD – April 20, 2021

    Covid-19 Vaccinations of Pregnant Mothers Also Protect Newborns, Studies Suggest – Mar. 31 – The Wall Street Journal

    Vaccination Calculus is Changing for New Parents – Mar. 31 – The Atlantic

    Estudio revela cómo vacunas contra COVID-19 podrían beneficiar a embarazadas y sus bebés – Mar. 30 – Telemundo (video)

    Pfizer, Moderna COVID Vaccines Safe for Pregnant Women – Mar. 29 – WebMD

    Pregnant women 'didn't have the data' – until now: COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, even for babies, study shows – Mar. 27 – USA Today

    Reporte: vacunas de Pfizer y Moderna son efectivas en embarazadas y lactantes – Mar. 26 – Telemundo

    COVID-19 Vaccination Response in Pregnant and Lactating Women: A Cohort Study – Mar. 25 – American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology

    Pregnant women show robust immune response to COVID-19 vaccine, study finds - Mar. 25 - TODAY

    Pfizer and Moderna are safe and effective in pregnant women, provide antibodies to newborns - Mar. 25 - ABC News

    Study says Covid-19 vaccines provide protection for pregnant and lactating women—and their newborns – Mar. 25 - CNN

    Pregnant or Lactating? Vaccinated People Might Be Passing On COVID Immunity to Their Babies - Mar. 2021 - Washington Post

    Vaccinated Mothers Pass Covid Antibodies to Babies In Utero and Through Breastmilk, Early Studies Show - Mar. 2021 - WBUR

    Edlow Lab on CBS News to talk COVID-19 Vaccine Safety and Efficacy in Pregnancy - Mar. 2021- CBS News

    Dr. Edlow's Research Named a Top Science Advance of the Year! - Jan. 2021 - NICHD Director’s Corner

    Evidence Builds That Pregnant Women Pass Covid Antibodies to Newborns - Jan. 2021- New York Times

    Research reveals compromised transfer of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies through the placenta - Dec. 2020 - Mass General

    Pregnant women with COVID-19 don’t pass virus to newborns, but also may pass fewer-than-expected antibodies to newborns - Dec. 2020 - Mass General

    NORCH Newsletter Investigator Spotlight: Andrea G. Edlow, MD, MSc - Nov. 2019

    Who We Are

    Meet Our Team

    Principal Investigator

    Andrea Edlow, MD, MSc

    Andrea Edlow, MD, MSc
    Andrea Edlow, MD, MSc, is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. She received her B.A. in History from Yale College, a Master’s of Science in Economic and Social History from Oxford University, and her MD from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the Massachusetts General Hospital/Brigham and Women’s Hospital combined program, and a Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at Tufts Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine, where she completed her postdoctoral research in the laboratory of Dr. Diana Bianchi. While completing her career development award as part of the Reproductive Scientist Development Program (RSDP, NICHD), Dr. Edlow returned to MGH in 2017 to start her laboratory.

    In addition to being a PI in the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology and working as a Maternal-Fetal Medicine physician at MGH, Dr. Edlow serves as the Vice Chair of Research for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at MGH. A critical part of both her clinical and scientific work is providing training and mentorship to the next generation of physicians and scientists. Dr. Edlow has mentored 20 trainees, who have gone on to productive careers in academic medicine, science, and the private sector.

    Lydia Shook, MD

    Lydia Shook, MD

    Dr. Shook is a Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and an Investigator in the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology. She received her undergraduate and medical degrees from Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, and completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She recently completed the Maternal-Fetal Medicine fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital in 2021, during which time she joined the Edlow lab as a Vincent Research Fellow to explore how maternal exposures and disease states, such as obesity, might affect fetal development through placental inflammation and immune activation. She was awarded the BWH/MGH NICHD WRHR (Women’s Reproductive Health Research) Faculty Career Development Award to support her work with the Edlow Lab investigating the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy.

    Rachel YingerRachel Yinger – Research Technician I

    Rachel Yinger is a graduate of Roanoke College, where she earned a BS in Biology and Creative Writing. During her time at RC, she was involved in research and completed an honors thesis project titled: “The Effect of Estrogen on Metabolic Health in Diet-Induced Obesity.” She also worked in a lab setting as a chemistry TA. In addition to research, Rachel has prior clinical experience as a medical scribe, nursing assistant, and EMT. Outside her love for science and medicine, she enjoys literature and the arts. She is a former professional ballet dancer and enjoys teaching ballet and choreographing.

    Oscar JimenezOscar Jimenez – Research Technician

    Oscar is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts Lowell with his BS in Biology with a concentration in Biotechnology. During his time at UML, he worked as an undergraduate researcher in Dr. Brandon DeKosky’s lab at the Ragon Institute of Mass General, MIT and Harvard. His research focused on cloning malaria antibodies from patient donors immunized with the malaria vaccine PfSPZ into yeast surface display libraries and screening the yeast cells for binding to malaria antigens using FACS. Outside of the lab, Oscar enjoys trying new foods, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

    Josh RemlandJosh Remland – Research Technician

    Josh (he/him) is a research technician in the Edlow Lab with experience in translational research at UC San Diego and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, where he led projects on pancreatic and colorectal cancers. As a Brown University undergraduate, he researched healthcare disparities in pediatric asthma and global health. He recently completed Harvard Extension School’s Premedical Program and aims to deepen his expertise in maternal and fetal health, immunology, and reducing health disparities.

    Josh co-chaired Dana-Farber’s LGBTQ+ & Friends Employee Resource Group. A retired rower who placed second at the 2021 U.S. Olympic Trials, Josh now volunteers as a coach for local nonprofits, including WeCanRow-Boston, supporting women recovering from breast cancer.

    Liv JassetLiv Jasset – Clinical Research Coordinator

    Liv completed her undergraduate studies in Neuroscience at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY. While on campus she was involved in research in the Psychology, Neuroscience, and Biology departments studying a range of topics including eating disorders and neuronal migration. In her senior year, she conducted a year-long thesis studying the potential for oxytocin to attenuate drug-induced social avoidance. Now, as a Clinical Research Coordinator, Liv works with Dr. Edlow to investigate the impact of COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy. She hopes that her experiences in the Edlow Lab researching and advocating for women’s health will help shape her future career in medicine.

    Alexa SilfenAlexa Silfen – Clinical Research Coordinator

    Alexa Silfen graduated from the University of Chicago with a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences with a specialization in Global Health. Throughout her time at UChicago, Alexa was heavily involved in gastrointestinal research and was a teaching assistant for nutritional biology and metabolism courses. Her research focused on COVID-19 antibody response in patients on immunotherapy and investigating under-resourced minorities in IBD clinical trials.

    Alexa works with Dr. Edlow as the Ob/Gyn Departmental Clinical Research Coordinator, to facilitate research across the department. Alexa looks forward to enhancing research infrastructure with the Ob/Gyn Department, as well as furthering her passion for a medical career in women’s health. Outside of the lab, Alexa enjoys baking, traveling, and spending time with friends.

    Shiri Barbash-HazanShiri Barbash-Hazan, MD – Postdoctoral Research Scientist

    Dr. Shiri Barbash-Hazan grew up in Israel. She is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rabin Medical Center, and a lecturer in Tel Aviv University in Israel.

    She received her medical degree from Ben Gurion University in Israel and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Rabin Medical Center.

    She recently joined the Edlow lab as a research fellow, at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital to explore how maternal exposures and disease, might affect fetal development through placental inflammation and immune activation.

    Outside of the lab, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends.

    Laura Ibanez-PintorLaura Ibanez-Pintor, MD – Postdoctoral Fellow

    Laura Ibanez-Pintor, MD, is a postdoctoral research fellow at Dr. Edlow's lab. She earned her MD from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2022 and currently aspires to pursue an OB/GYN residency in the US while advancing her research career. Passionate about women's health, she advocates for their well-being.

    During medical school, Laura actively participated in various clinical research studies on the field, including postpartum depression and contraception methods. Prior to joining Dr. Edlow's lab, she was a Research Fellow in Obstetric Anesthesiology at Brigham and Women's Hospital (BWH), where she contributed to projects concerning pre-operative care, postpartum hemorrhage, and pain management with the use of neuraxial techniques/medications for delivery. Through her research, she aims to enhance the holistic care provided to women and obstetric patients.

    Recognizing the impact of maternal immunity research on fetal outcomes and child development, Laura seeks to refine her research skills at Dr. Edlow's lab to become an integral physician in her field.

    Prabhat Upadhyay, MPharm, PhDPrabhat Upadhyay, MPharm, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow

    Prabhat Upadhyay is joining as a postdoctoral research fellow at Dr. Edlow’s lab where he will focus on translational research using clinical samples. He previously held a postdoctoral fellowship at the esteemed Wellman Center for Photomedicine in the Department of Dermatology at MGH, as well as at Harvard Medical School, where he honed his skills in biomedical research. Before venturing to the U.S., Prabhat served as a Young Scientist at the National Institute of Immunology in New Delhi, India, where he made significant contributions to the area of the gut-brain axis with an Alzheimer’s mouse model. He completed his PhD in Pharmacology at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India, in 2018, laying the groundwork for his current research pursuits.

    Prabhat's work involves unraveling the role of gut microbiota in the management of brain disorders and muscle mitochondria function using diverse mouse models. With a fervent passion for scientific exploration, he continues to drive forward significant contributions to the fields of molecular pharmacology and immunology.

    Bridget O'ConnorBridget O’Connor, BS – Clinical Research Program/Project Manager

    Bridget is the Clinical Research Program/Project Manager in Dr. Edlow's lab and the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology. She earned her undergraduate degree in microbiology with a minor in neuroscience from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Following graduation, she worked for four years at a biotechnology startup specializing in human gut microbiome research. Her achievements during her tenure include facilitating the isolation, characterization, and preparation of one of the most expansive collections of human gut bacteria globally, as well as helping to facilitate a nation-wide outreach program to source human pediatric fecal samples from over half of US States. This work aimed to develop consumer and pharmaceutical products from bacterial strains derived from human samples, targeting areas such as mental health, various forms of pain, and infant and maternal health.

    In her current role, Bridget collaborates with Dr. Edlow and departmental colleagues to help develop research processes and infrastructure. Outside of the lab, Bridget loves to garden and paint. She also leads a community group dedicated to the improvement and support of local public spaces.

    Daehee HanDaehee Han, PhD – Non-clinical Research Fellow

    Dr. Han is a Non-Clinical Professional Staff in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, and a Research Scientist at the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. He received his undergraduate and PhD degrees from Seoul National University, South Korea, and trained as a postdoctoral researcher at the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania. He developed his career at the Academy of Immunology and Microbiology in the Institute for Basic Science, South Korea. Interestingly, he has an industry career as a principal scientist and a vice president at Standigm, an AI drug discovery biotech company, and recently came back to academia with new insights. He published in multiple high-impact journals including Immunity, Science, and Nature Medicine as a first- and co-author. He loves mountain biking, swimming, and singing. He is alleged as a good singer, but it has yet to be proven.

    Alumni

    Laboratory Staff

    • Alissa Mitchell
    • Stelios Vagios, MD
    • LaTina Watson
    • Laura Yockey, MD, PhD

    Urogynecology Fellows

    • Marcus Ortega, MD, MBA
    • Youngwu Kim, MD
    • Joe Shi, MD
    • Vi Duong, MD ‘24

    Postdoctoral Position Available

    We are recruiting a postdoctoral fellow to work in the Edlow Laboratory within the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology on NIH-funded projects focused on fetal brain-placental immune activation in the setting of maternal immune activation. Maternal immune-activating conditions of interest include obesity, diabetes, and viral infections. Experience in immunology, placental biology, neuroscience and/or systems/computational biology is ideal, but not required. Our research broadly focuses on the programming effects of maternal immune activation on fetal and offspring brain development and behavior, and the placenta-brain connection. We utilize pre-clinical models and human samples to explore mechanisms underlying neurodevelopmental and metabolic morbidity in offspring exposed to immune activation in utero. We also focus on the impact of offspring sex on these outcomes. Our approach is multidisciplinary and highly collaborative. Our laboratory is affiliated with Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts General Hospital, as well as with the Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine at Mass General.

    Job Description

    The Edlow Laboratory for basic and translational research is sited in the Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology (VCRB) on the main campus of Massachusetts General Hospital. Ongoing studies focus on the neurodevelopmental and metabolic programming effects of maternal obesity, maternal high-fat diet, and maternal viral infection (e.g. with SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy and lactation. We work both with mouse models of maternal obesity as well as with human participant samples (placenta, maternal blood, cord blood, breastmilk and others). We evaluate the impact of maternal immune activation on placental and fetal immune activation. In the murine model, we assess fetal, juvenile, and adult offspring brain development using molecular and immunohistochemical techniques, as well as neurobehavioral testing. Areas of focus include: (1) the effects of maternal immune activation on offspring cognition and mood outcomes (anxiety, depression), particularly as they relate to neuroinflammation and brain-immune interactions; (2) Developing novel cellular models of fetal brain development using proxy cell types; (3) Developmental programming of offspring feeding behaviors (reward-based feeding governed by the mesolimbic dopamine circuit) and offspring metabolic parameters (including insulin resistance, body fat composition, and dysregulation of leptin, ghrelin, and other peripheral and central hormonal signaling); (4) Utilizing novel targeted therapeutics to improve offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes; and (5) Elucidating the role of fetal and offspring sex in mediating the effects of maternal diet-induced obesity on neurodevelopment.

    Experience in the following is either required or preferred (as indicated):

    • Extensive experience with molecular techniques including RNA/DNA/protein assays (required)
    • Experience with cell isolations from tissue and blood (animal or human) and with techniques such as RNA-sequencing and flow cytometry/FACS (preferred)
    • Experience with mouse models and handling, including rodent surgery (preferred)
    • Experience either performing or working with bioinformatics analyses of sequencing data (preferred, but can provide training for interested applicants)
    • Experience with brain retrieval, tissue preservation for immunohistochemical analyses, brain or placental sectioning and tissue staining, and neurobehavioral testing (preferred)
    • Skill in collection, organization, management, and analysis of complex data sets (required)
    • Skill in experimental design, protocol development, and troubleshooting (required)
    • Skill in data analysis using statistical analytical tools is required. Experience with Graphpad Prism and/or SPSS/STATA/SAS is preferred.
    • Experience preparing manuscripts for publication, experience with review and summarization of relevant literature for manuscript background and grant preparation (required). Preparation of study findings and presentation at professional meetings will also be strongly encouraged.
    There are many opportunities for education and growth in our multidisciplinary, collaborative research program that brings together a group of obstetrician-gynecologists, neuroscientists, immunologists, endocrinologists, animal neuroimagers at the world-class Athinoula Martinos Center for Brain Imaging, and translational and clinical researchers at the Innovation Center on Sex Differences in Medicine. 

    Requirements

    Applicant should have a PhD.

    Please email a CV and cover letter of interest to Ms. Jamie Murphy, Administrative Director for the Vincent Center of Reproductive Biology, at JPMURPHY1@mgh.harvard.edu, indicating that you are applying for the postdoctoral position in Dr. Edlow’s lab. Contact information for three professional references (names, address, phone and e-mail) will also be requested during the interview process.

    Massachusetts General Hospital is a teaching affiliate of Harvard Medical School and an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.

      Doctor's Story: Andrea Edlow, MD

      During the COVID-19 pandemic, our lab pivoted to expand our focus to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy. Partnering with a multi-disciplinary team, we have worked across the Mass General Brigham system to establish one of the largest COVID-19 Pregnancy Biorepositories in the country.

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      Publications

      Selected Publications

      A Top Hospital in America

      Mass General is recognized as a top hospital on the U.S. News Best Hospitals Honor Roll for 2024-2025.

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