Francine Hughes MD

Dr. Francine Hughes's primary research interests focus on the investigation of obesity, maternal molecular metabolism, and, its impact on the fetus. Specifically, she is studying the role of adipose tissue, particularly visceral adipose tissue, and nutrient excess in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance in pregnancy and the long-term effects of changes in maternal body composition. In addition, she has been funded to investigate the effects of abnormal intrauterine fetal growth on genome-wide epigenetic profiles. Epigenetic regulation, which allows for the stable propagation of gene activation and inactivation, may serve as a biological memory of the intrauterine environment. This valuable investigation may ultimately lead to a better understanding of the mechanism of epigenetic changes in the setting of abnormal fetal growth and the implicit roles that such changes play in the development of adult-onset diseases, such as diabetes.