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Dr James Cuffe
Dr

James Cuffe

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 53180

Overview

Background

Dr Cuffe is a systems physiologist focused on understanding the complex changes to maternal physiology that occur during pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy dysfunction of programmed cardiovascular, metabolic and renal disease in offspring. Dr Cuffe has a particular focus on understanding the role of the placenta and its hormones in mediating both maternal and offspring disease. He is most recognised for his research investigating how maternal stress, thyroid dysfunction, hypoxia or altered nutrition affect placental development and program disease in the mother after pregnancy as well as her offspring. Dr Cuffe has an exceptional track record and is excited to take new honours and PhD students into his research laboratory.

Availability

Dr James Cuffe is:
Available for supervision

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Science, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Science (Advanced), The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Placental regulation of pregnancy disorders

    The placenta modulates almost every aspect of human physiology during pregnancy and it is the least understood of all human organs. It is known that placental dysfunction contributes to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, stillbirth, preterm birth and fetal growth restriction and yet the mechanisms responsible are largely unknown. Much of my work focuses on understanding what goes wrong in the placenta to cause such poor outcomes in pregnancy.

  • Understanding the impact of thyroid disorders on pregnancy outcomes

    Given that thyroid disorders impact 1 in 20 women, it is essential to understand the links between these disorders and poor outcomes in pregnancy. In particular, I want to understand how targeting novel factors may ensure a healthy start to life for babies born to women with a thyroid disorder

  • Effects of maternal adversity on offspring physiology

    I am interested in understanding how stress, hypoxia or other causes of adversity during pregnancy can impair placental function and induce fetal growth restriction. Given that fetal growth restriction is associated with a range of adult onset diseases, I explore the link between these maternal factors and offspring cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological and renal dysfunction.

  • Understanding the role of poorly understood nutrients in pregnancy health and fetal development

    We must obtain a large number of micronutrients in our diet to ensure optimal health. The requirements for many of these micronutrients increase in pregnancy as the placenta actively transports these nutrients to the baby where they are required for essential biological processes or to provide the building blocks of life. This can mean that micronutrient deficiencies can become problematic at a time that the human body is undergoing the most significant changes to its physiology that occur during its lifetime. My research focuses on understand the key biological roles of such micronutrients in pregnancy which may better inform nutrient requirements to ensure a healthy pregnancy. I am currently most interested in understanding the roles of selenium and vitamin B12 in pregnancy in relation to poor pregnancy outcomes and long term disease in offspring.

  • Understanding the impact of metformin on placental formation

    Metformin is frontline medication used for management of endocrine disorders such as diabetes mellitus and polycystic ovary syndrome. Furthermore, it is one of only two treatments used to manage gestational diabetes. Metformin is known to induce its effects by impacting multiple pathways however, how it impacts maternal and fetal physiology in pregnancy is largely unknown. I am currently looking at how metformin impacts placental development and if some of the benefits of this drug are due to changes in placental function.

Works

Search Professor James Cuffe’s works on UQ eSpace

101 works between 2008 and 2024

1 - 20 of 101 works

2024

Journal Article

Sex-Specific Changes to Brain Fatty Acids, Plasmalogen, and Plasma Endocannabinoids in Offspring Exposed to Maternal and Postnatal High-Linoleic-Acid Diets

Ezechukwu, Henry C., Ney, Luke J., Jarvis, Madeline A., Shrestha, Nirajan, Holland, Olivia J., Cuffe, James S. M., Perkins, Anthony V., Yau, Suk-Yu, McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H. (2024). Sex-Specific Changes to Brain Fatty Acids, Plasmalogen, and Plasma Endocannabinoids in Offspring Exposed to Maternal and Postnatal High-Linoleic-Acid Diets. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25 (14) 7911, 7911. doi: 10.3390/ijms25147911

Sex-Specific Changes to Brain Fatty Acids, Plasmalogen, and Plasma Endocannabinoids in Offspring Exposed to Maternal and Postnatal High-Linoleic-Acid Diets

2024

Journal Article

Maternal Diet High in Linoleic Acid Alters Renal Branching Morphogenesis and mTOR/AKT Signalling Genes in Rat Fetal Kidneys

McClelland, Connie, Holland, Olivia J., Shrestha, Nirajan, Jukes, Claire L., Brandon, Anna E., Cuffe, James S. M., Perkins, Anthony V., McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H. (2024). Maternal Diet High in Linoleic Acid Alters Renal Branching Morphogenesis and mTOR/AKT Signalling Genes in Rat Fetal Kidneys. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25 (9) 4688, 4688. doi: 10.3390/ijms25094688

Maternal Diet High in Linoleic Acid Alters Renal Branching Morphogenesis and mTOR/AKT Signalling Genes in Rat Fetal Kidneys

2024

Journal Article

Sowing the seeds of stress: maternal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids impacts sperm miRNA for generations

Burgess, D. J. and Cuffe, J. S. M. (2024). Sowing the seeds of stress: maternal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids impacts sperm miRNA for generations. The Journal of Physiology, 602 (9), 1875-1876. doi: 10.1113/jp286280

Sowing the seeds of stress: maternal exposure to synthetic glucocorticoids impacts sperm miRNA for generations

2024

Journal Article

Maternal diet high in linoleic acid alters offspring lipids and hepatic regulators of lipid metabolism in an adolescent rat model

Shrestha, Nirajan, Sleep, Simone L., Holland, Olivia J., Vidimce, Josif, Bulmer, Andrew C., Cuffe, James S. M., Perkins, Anthony V., McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H. (2024). Maternal diet high in linoleic acid alters offspring lipids and hepatic regulators of lipid metabolism in an adolescent rat model. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25 (2) 1129, 1-11. doi: 10.3390/ijms25021129

Maternal diet high in linoleic acid alters offspring lipids and hepatic regulators of lipid metabolism in an adolescent rat model

2023

Conference Publication

Thyroglobulin antibodies impair fertility and litter parameters and impact fetal survival in a rodent model of autoimmune thyroiditis

Brady, Rebecca, Kent, Nykola, Reid, Anna, Zimmerman, Dayna and Cuffe, James (2023). Thyroglobulin antibodies impair fertility and litter parameters and impact fetal survival in a rodent model of autoimmune thyroiditis. Annual Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Rotorua, New Zealand, 5-8 September 2023. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

Thyroglobulin antibodies impair fertility and litter parameters and impact fetal survival in a rodent model of autoimmune thyroiditis

2023

Conference Publication

The effects of metformin treatment for diabetes during pregnancy on placental mitochondrial function and fetal outcomes

Zimmerman, Dayna, Ibe, Somtochukwu, Simmons, David, Holland, Olivia and Cuffe, James (2023). The effects of metformin treatment for diabetes during pregnancy on placental mitochondrial function and fetal outcomes. Annual Meeting of the International-Federation-of-Placenta-Associations (IFPA), Rotorua, New Zealand, 5-8 September 2023. London, United Kingdom: Elsevier.

The effects of metformin treatment for diabetes during pregnancy on placental mitochondrial function and fetal outcomes

2023

Journal Article

Glucocorticoids and their receptor isoforms: roles in female reproduction, pregnancy, and foetal development

Bhaumik, Sreeparna, Lockett, Jack, Cuffe, James and Clifton, Vicki L. (2023). Glucocorticoids and their receptor isoforms: roles in female reproduction, pregnancy, and foetal development. Biology, 12 (8) 1104, 1-27. doi: 10.3390/biology12081104

Glucocorticoids and their receptor isoforms: roles in female reproduction, pregnancy, and foetal development

2023

Journal Article

Maternal hypothyroidism in rats impairs placental nutrient transporter expression, increases labyrinth zone size, and impairs fetal growth

Kent, Nykola L., Atluri, Sharat C., Moritz, Karen M. and Cuffe, James S. M. (2023). Maternal hypothyroidism in rats impairs placental nutrient transporter expression, increases labyrinth zone size, and impairs fetal growth. Placenta, 139, 148-158. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2023.06.010

Maternal hypothyroidism in rats impairs placental nutrient transporter expression, increases labyrinth zone size, and impairs fetal growth

2023

Journal Article

The role of maternal choline, folate and one‐carbon metabolism in mediating the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on placental and fetal development

Steane, Sarah E., Cuffe, James S. M. and Moritz, Karen M. (2023). The role of maternal choline, folate and one‐carbon metabolism in mediating the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on placental and fetal development. The Journal of Physiology, 601 (6), 1061-1075. doi: 10.1113/jp283556

The role of maternal choline, folate and one‐carbon metabolism in mediating the impact of prenatal alcohol exposure on placental and fetal development

2023

Journal Article

Vitamin B12 deficiency induces glucose intolerance, delays peak insulin levels and promotes ketogenesis in female rats

Neal, Elliott, Kumar, Vinod, Borges, Karin and Cuffe, James S.M. (2023). Vitamin B12 deficiency induces glucose intolerance, delays peak insulin levels and promotes ketogenesis in female rats. The Journal of Endocrinology, 256 (2) e220158, 1-16. doi: 10.1530/joe-22-0158

Vitamin B12 deficiency induces glucose intolerance, delays peak insulin levels and promotes ketogenesis in female rats

2023

Conference Publication

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with sex specific alterations to the placenta and reduced cerebroplacental ratio

Steane, Sarah E., Edwards, Christopher, Kubler, Jade, Akison, Lisa K., Cuffe, James S. M., Gallo, Linda A., Moritz, Karen M. and Clifton, Vicki L. (2023). Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with sex specific alterations to the placenta and reduced cerebroplacental ratio. 70th Annual Meeting of the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI), Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 21-25 March 2023. Heidelberg, Germany: Springer. doi: 10.1007/s43032-023-01211-1

Prenatal alcohol exposure is associated with sex specific alterations to the placenta and reduced cerebroplacental ratio

2022

Journal Article

The L-NAME mouse model of preeclampsia and impact to long-term maternal cardiovascular health

de Alwis, Natasha, Binder, Natalie K., Beard, Sally, Mangwiro, Yeukai T.M., Kadife, Elif, Cuffe, James S.M., Keenan, Emerson, Fato, Bianca R., Kaitu’u-Lino, Tu’uhevaha J., Brownfoot, Fiona C., Marshall, Sarah A. and Hannan, Natalie J. (2022). The L-NAME mouse model of preeclampsia and impact to long-term maternal cardiovascular health. Life Science Alliance, 5 (12) e202201517, 1-14. doi: 10.26508/lsa.202201517

The L-NAME mouse model of preeclampsia and impact to long-term maternal cardiovascular health

2022

Journal Article

Prenatal choline supplementation alters one carbon metabolites in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure

Steane, Sarah E., Kumar, Vinod, Cuffe, James S. M., Moritz, Karen M. and Akison, Lisa K. (2022). Prenatal choline supplementation alters one carbon metabolites in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure. Nutrients, 14 (9) 1874, 1874. doi: 10.3390/nu14091874

Prenatal choline supplementation alters one carbon metabolites in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure

2022

Journal Article

Selenium deficiency during pregnancy in mice impairs exercise performance and metabolic function in adult offspring

Hofstee, Pierre, Perkins, Anthony V. and Cuffe, James S. M. (2022). Selenium deficiency during pregnancy in mice impairs exercise performance and metabolic function in adult offspring. Nutrients, 14 (5) 1125, 1125. doi: 10.3390/nu14051125

Selenium deficiency during pregnancy in mice impairs exercise performance and metabolic function in adult offspring

2022

Journal Article

Maternal hypothyroidism in rats reduces placental lactogen, lowers insulin levels and causes glucose intolerance

Kent, Nykola Louise, Atluri, Sharat Chandra and Cuffe, James Sebastian Martin (2022). Maternal hypothyroidism in rats reduces placental lactogen, lowers insulin levels and causes glucose intolerance. Endocrinology, 163 (2) bqab231. doi: 10.1210/endocr/bqab231

Maternal hypothyroidism in rats reduces placental lactogen, lowers insulin levels and causes glucose intolerance

2022

Journal Article

The effect of gestational age on mitochondrial properties of the mouse placenta

Bartho, Lucy A, Fisher, Joshua J, Walton, Sarah L, Perkins, Anthony V and Cuffe, James S M (2022). The effect of gestational age on mitochondrial properties of the mouse placenta. Reproduction and Fertility, 3 (1), 19-29. doi: 10.1530/raf-21-0064

The effect of gestational age on mitochondrial properties of the mouse placenta

2021

Journal Article

Developmental vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats does not induce preeclampsia

Ali, Asad, Alexander, Suzanne, Ko, Pauline, Cuffe, James S. M., Whitehouse, Andrew J. O., McGrath, John J. and Eyles, Darryl (2021). Developmental vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats does not induce preeclampsia. Nutrients, 13 (12) 4254, 4254. doi: 10.3390/nu13124254

Developmental vitamin D deficiency in pregnant rats does not induce preeclampsia

2021

Journal Article

A Novel Ferritin-Core Analog Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Oral Ferrous Iron for Treating Iron Deficiency during Pregnancy in Mice

Helman, Sheridan L., Wilkins, Sarah J., McKeating, Daniel R, Perkins, Anthony V., Cuffe, James S. M., Hartel, Gunter, Faria, Nuno, Powell, Jonathan J., Anderson, Gregory J. and Frazer, David M. (2021). A Novel Ferritin-Core Analog Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Oral Ferrous Iron for Treating Iron Deficiency during Pregnancy in Mice. The Journal of Nutrition, 152 (3), 714-722. doi: 10.1093/jn/nxab363

A Novel Ferritin-Core Analog Is a Safe and Effective Alternative to Oral Ferrous Iron for Treating Iron Deficiency during Pregnancy in Mice

2021

Journal Article

Sex-specific differences in lysine, 3-hydroxybutyric acid and acetic acid in offspring exposed to maternal and postnatal high linoleic acid diet, independent of diet

Shrestha, Nirajan, Melvin, Steven D., McKeating, Daniel R., Holland, Olivia J., Cuffe, James S. M., Perkins, Anthony V., McAinch, Andrew J. and Hryciw, Deanne H. (2021). Sex-specific differences in lysine, 3-hydroxybutyric acid and acetic acid in offspring exposed to maternal and postnatal high linoleic acid diet, independent of diet. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 22 (19) 10223, 1-14. doi: 10.3390/ijms221910223

Sex-specific differences in lysine, 3-hydroxybutyric acid and acetic acid in offspring exposed to maternal and postnatal high linoleic acid diet, independent of diet

2021

Journal Article

Analysis of mitochondrial regulatory transcripts in publicly available datasets with validation in placentae from pre-term, post-term and fetal growth restriction pregnancies

Bartho, Lucy A., O’Callaghan, Jessica L., Fisher, Joshua J., Cuffe, James S.M., Kaitu'u-Lino, Tu'uhevaha J., Hannan, Natalie J., Clifton, Vicki L. and Perkins, Anthony V. (2021). Analysis of mitochondrial regulatory transcripts in publicly available datasets with validation in placentae from pre-term, post-term and fetal growth restriction pregnancies. Placenta, 112, 162-171. doi: 10.1016/j.placenta.2021.07.303

Analysis of mitochondrial regulatory transcripts in publicly available datasets with validation in placentae from pre-term, post-term and fetal growth restriction pregnancies

Funding

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2025
    Selenium supplementation: Can a simple nutritional supplement prevent fetal loss linked to thyroid autoimmunity?
    Allen Foundation Inc.
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2023
    Do thyroid antibodies disrupt placental arterial remodelling in pregnancy
    American Thyroid Association
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2022
    Understanding the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus
    Allen Foundation Inc.
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Advanced Brightfield and Fluorescent High Speed and Throughput Slide Scanner for biological, medical, materials science, and agricultural applications
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2019
    Vevo 3100 Imaging System for ultrahigh resolution and frame rate echocardiographic assessment of small animals.
    UQ Major Equipment and Infrastructure
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Placental clock gene expression in the Spiny Mouse
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr James Cuffe is:
Available for supervision

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Available projects

  • Investigating placental contributions to complications of pregnancy

    The placenta regulates all aspects of pregnancy health. It secretes factors into the maternal system to control maternal blood glucose concentrations, blood pressure and neurological function. This study will investigate key pathological processes in the placenta which may contribute to gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction.

  • Investigating how micro-nutrient deficiencies during pregnancy lead to metabolic and renal disease in offspring.

    Given that only 1 in 20 Australians consume the recommended dietary intake of fruit and vegetables, most Australians would be deficient in key micronutrients when they fall pregnant. Deficiencies in these micronutrients is known to increase maternal risk of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia but their influence on offspring physiology is less well understood. This study will investigate the role of specific micronutrients in fetal development and offspring physiology. Most particularly, this project will focus on diabetes and renal disease in offspring, two comorbid conditions known to be affected by events that occur before birth.

  • Investigating placental contributions to complications of pregnancy

    The placenta regulates all aspects of pregnancy health. It secretes a range of steroid, protein and peptide hormones into the maternal system to override normal homeostatic processes resulting in drastic physiological changes to almost all biological systems. Such changes result in a significant expansion of blood volume, cardiac hypertrophy, redistribution of metabolic resources, altered insulin production, insulin resistance as well changes to neurological function. This study will investigate how pathological processes in the placenta impact hormone secretion and this may contribute to miscarriage, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth and intrauterine growth restriction. This study also aims to increase our knowledge of poorly understood proteins that are only secreted by the placenta that likely have significant biological roles. To achieve these outcomes, this study will use a combination of clinical samples from pregnant people as well as targeted animal and in vitro models.

  • Investigating how thyroid autoimmunity impacts pregnancy outcomes: Possible role of selenium as a treatment

    Thyroid autoimmunity is the most common cause of thyroid dysfunction in areas that are iodine sufficient. Patients with thyroid autoimmunity have antibodies that target key thyroid proteins. These thyroid antibodies can disrupt thyroid function leading to thyroid disease. However, a large number of individuals have high levels of these antibodies without having yet developing changes to thyroid hormone levels. Approximately 1 in 6 pregnant people are positive for thyroid antibodies, and this increases their risk of a range of pregnancy complications, even if their thyroid hormone levels are within normal ranges. This study aims to investigate the biological processes by which thyroid antibodies lead to a range of pregnancy related disorders. For instance, we will investigate how thyroid antibodies impact vascular smooth muscle cell migration and how this might lead to preeclampsia or growth restriction. Currently, there are no suitable treatments for reducing thyroid antibody levels however, there is a large amount of emerging evidence that suggests that selenium supplementation might improve outcomes. Therefore this study will also explore how selenium can alter the biological processes shown to be impacted by thyroid antibodies.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating the effects of Autoimmune Thyroiditis on Pregnancy Physiology

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the impact of metformin on one carbon metabolism, placental function and fetal outcomes.

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr David Simmons

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding the relationship between vitamin B12 deficiency in pregnancy and gestational diabetes mellitus

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Glycogen in Epilepsy

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Nela Durisic, Associate Professor Karin Borges

  • Doctor Philosophy

    A new the mechanism for the coexistence of hypercortisolaemia and inflammation: GRalpha D1

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Honorary Professor Vicki Clifton

Completed supervision

Media

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