Corbin Shields, PhD

Instructor
(601) 984-1697

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Current research

My research interests involve understanding the pathophysiology of aberrant lipid metabolism, immune cell activation, and pharmacological interventions as they relate to pregnancy and preeclampsia.  Specifically, I am interested in investigating how macrophage polarization affects lipid metabolism and energy balance in the placenta and renal tissues in normal pregnancy and preeclampsia. Clinical studies have demonstrated an increased population of pro-inflammatory macrophages in the placentas of women with preeclampsia. Macrophages are also associated with increasing local fatty acid synthesis leading to high concentrations of free fatty acids that can induce oxidative stress.  However, the role of macrophages in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia has received little attention leaving a gap in knowledge of any mechanisms by which macrophage activity may play a role in preeclampsia. These studies are aimed to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology of preeclampsia as it relates to immune modulation and lipid metabolism.