Reproductive immunology at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
and Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania

Our Scientific Mission.

The Gordon Lab wants to know how the maternal immune system and the developing placenta communicate with each other.  Historically, the maternal-fetal interface has been viewed in the same light as other immune-privileged sites in the body, to explain why a mother’s immune system doesn’t view the fetus as a partially foreign organ and reject it.  In truth, the maternal-fetal interface is loaded with immune cells that directly interact with fetal cells throughout pregnancy.  Likewise, a growing list of inflammatory molecules released by immune cells play key roles to support a healthy pregnancy.  If we can understand how these molecules send signals back and forth between mom and fetus, we may be able to change the course of such life-threatening conditions as preeclampsia, intrauterine growth restriction, congenital infections, and premature birth.

Our Ethos.

In our lab, we celebrate, respect, and are kind to each other. We mentor, support, and advocate for trainees of all races, ethnicities, religions, gender identities, and sexual orientations. We work actively to make science a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive field.