Advances in Maternal-Fetal Biomedicine

Marcelo González-Ortiz earned a PhD in Physiological Sciences from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile in 2009. From 2009 to 2018, he led the Vascular Physiology Lab at the Department of Physiology, and since 2018, he has been the head of the Maternal-Fetal Research Lab at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Faculty of Medicine at Universidad de Concepción in Chile. His research is focused on studying the regulation mechanisms of nitric oxide synthesis and calcium-activated potassium channels in the human placenta under both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Currently, Dr. González-Ortiz's research projects concentrate on gestational diabetes and the effects of COVID-19 on the placenta and children.

Feto-Placental Unit: from development to function.- Role of hormones during gestation and early development: pathways involved in developmental programming.- Physiological and pathophysiological role of large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels (BKCa) in HUVECs and placenta.- Metabolic interaction between Folate, Vitamin B12 and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in pregnancy.- Evidence of nitric oxide impairment during hypertensive pregnancies.- Pathophysiology of preeclampsia and L-Arginine/L-citrulline supplementation as a potential strategy to improve birth outcomes.- Maternal and fetal expression of ATP-binding cassette and Solute Carrier transporters involved in the brain disposition of drugs.- Development of the placenta and brain are affected by selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors exposure during critical periods.- The endocannabinoid system in placenta and respiratory central nervous system development: effects of prenatal exposure to cannabinoids.- Impact of prenatal nicotine exposure on placental function and respiratory neural network development.- Language impairment in children of mothers with gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and preterm delivery: current hypothesis and potential underlying mechanisms.- COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes, mental health and placenta: focus in Latin America.- The placental function beyond pregnancy: Insights from Latin America.