Michael J. Soares, Ph.D.

Contact Information:
Institute of Maternal-Fetal Biology
Division of Cancer & Developmental Biology
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Kansas Medical Center
3901 Rainbow Boulevard
Kansas City, Kansas 66160

Office: Lied 1012
Phone: 913 588-5691
Fax: 913 588-8287
Email: msoares@kumc.edu

Laboratory: Lied 1001, 1003, 1007
Phone: 913 588-5690

Training:

Ph.D., University of Hawaii, 1981; Postdoctoral, University of California, Santa Cruz, 1981-1983; Postdoctoral, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 1983-1984

Academic Position(s):

Professor and Director
Division of Cancer & Developmental Biology
Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine
University of Kansas Medical Center

Professor
Department of Molecular & Integrative Physiology
University of Kansas
Medical Center (joint appointment)

Professor
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Kansas Medical Center
(joint appointment)

KUMC Center/Institute Affiliation(s):

Director, Institute of Maternal-Fetal Biology
Member, Kansas Masonic Cancer Research Institute
Member, Center for Reproductive Sciences
Member, Mental Retardation Research Center

Research Interests:

Pregnancy is a complicated biological process that requires a dynamic interaction between embryonic and maternal tissues. The Soares laboratory investigates molecular mechanisms and signaling events involved in the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy. They have focused on studying cell differentiation in an extraembryonic tissue, the placenta, and in a uterine structure referred to as decidua. These tissues develop in concert with the embryo, form intimate relationships with each other, and enable the embryo to have access to and to control the availability of maternal resources. Differentiation of both trophoblast and decidual cells is crucial to the establishment of pregnancy and the growth and development of the embryo/fetus. Research in the Soares laboratory currently includes investigations on the prolactin gene family, intrauterine inflammatory and immune cells, uterine vasculature, and signaling pathways controlling the growth and differentiation of decidual and trophoblast cells. These scientific pursuits directly impact the understanding of key diseases of pregnancy, including preeclampsia and intrauterine growth restriction.

Selected recent publications:

1. Kamei, T., Jones, S.R., Chapman, B.M., McGonigle, K., Dai, G., and Soares, M.J. (2002) Activation and involvement of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/akt-signaling pathway in the endocrine differentiation of trophoblast cells. Molecular Endocrinology 16, 1469-1481
2. Wiemers, D.O., Shao, L.-J., Ain, R., Dai, G., and Soares, M.J. (2003) The mouse prolactin gene family locus. Endocrinology 144, 313-325
3. Ain, R., Canham, L.N., and Soares, M.J. (2003) Gestational stage-dependent intrauterine trophoblast cell invasion in the rat and mouse: novel endocrine phenotype and regulation. Developmental Biology 260, 176-190
4. Soares, M.J. and Wolfe, M.W. (2004) Human embryonic stem cells ‘assemble’ and fulfill their developmental ‘destiny’. Endocrinology 145, 1514-1516.
5. Ain, R., Dai, G., Dunmore, J.H., Godwin, A.R., and Soares,M.J. (2004) A prolactin family analog regulates reproductive adaptations to a physiological stressor. Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences, U.S.A. 101, 16543-16548.
6. Soares, M.J. (2004) The prolactin and growth hormone families: pregnancy-specific hormones/cytokines at the maternal-fetal interface. Reproductive Biology & Endocrinology 2, 51 (http://www.rbej.com/content/2/1/51)