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
Fields of research
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
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr James Cuffe is:
- Available for supervision
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Available projects
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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.
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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
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Doctor Philosophy
Treating thyroid autoimmunity in pregnancy with selenium supplementation
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Karin Borges
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding the impact of metformin on one carbon metabolism, placental function and fetal outcomes.
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr David Simmons
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigating the effects of Autoimmune Thyroiditis on Pregnancy Physiology
Principal Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
A new the mechanism for the coexistence of hypercortisolaemia and inflammation: GRalpha D1
Associate Advisor
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Doctor Philosophy
Investigation into novel strategies in seizure control ¿ improving glucose transport and auxiliary fuel
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Nela Durisic, Associate Professor Karin Borges
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of thyroid dysfunction during pregnancy on maternal, placental and fetal outcomes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Moritz
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2024
Doctor Philosophy
The effect of prenatal alcohol exposure on maternal, placental, and fetal micronutrients
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Moritz
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
The impact of periconceptional ethanol exposure on maternal and offspring hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis function and associated behaviours in a rat model.
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Moritz
Media
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