Dr. Han’s laboratory is focused on studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms of normal fetal and placental growth with the aim of understanding the pathobiological mechanisms of fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia. His laboratory utilizes (1) transgenic and gene targeting technologies to delineate the paracrine/endocrine role of IGF system in mice, (2) models of manipulating nutritional and substrate supplies to the fetus in pregnant animals to study gene-environmental interactions in fetal and placental development and developmental programming, and (3) genomic and proteomic technologies to determine the molecular mechanisms of fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia in biological materials (plasma, amniotic fluid and placentae) from human subjects. The ultimate aim of Dr. Han’s research is to develop new diagnostic tools and interventions to improve the short- and long-term outcomes of women who develop preeclampsia during pregnancies, and growth restricted (low birth weight) newborns.