Placenta
Developmental Programming of Brain and Metabolic Health
The maternal environment provides the foundation for lifelong health. We investigate how nutrition, metabolism, hormones, the microbiome, and other early-life environmental factors influence pregnancy, placental function, fetal brain development, and offspring physiology. Our goal is to identify the biological mechanisms that underlie developmental programming and discover strategies that promote healthy pregnancies and reduce the risk of chronic disease.
Newborn neurons
Brain Plasticity and Adaptive Behaviour
The brain continuously integrates information from the body and the external world to guide physiology and behaviour. We study how neural plasticity, neurogenesis, and neuroendocrine signalling regulate decision-making, motivation, learning, and other complex behaviours. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms provides insight into mental health, resilience and healthy brain function throughout life.
Prevention Through Mechanistic Discovery
Rather than studying disease after it develops, we seek to identify the mechanisms that initiate it. By integrating animal models, behavioural neuroscience, metabolomics, hormone profiling, molecular biology, and advanced imaging, we investigate how environmental exposures influence health long before clinical symptoms appear. Our long-term vision is to generate the biological evidence needed to support personalized prevention strategies that improve lifelong health.
Our Philosophy
We believe that understanding biology is the first step toward preventing disease. Our laboratory is driven by curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking. We are committed to rigorous science, interdisciplinary research, and training the next generation of scientists to ask meaningful questions, evaluate evidence critically, and communicate science effectively.
To read what I did before I started my lab at UPEI, please visit www.desireeseib.com