Program Alumni.

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Christina Scifres, MD

Christina Scifres, MD

Project:
FABP4 and fetal macrosomia in obesity and diabetes

Publications:
Scifres CM, Chen B, Nelson DM, Sadovsky Y. Fatty Acid binding protein 4 regulates intracellular lipid accumulation in human trophoblasts. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2011;96:E1083-91. Pubmed

Current status:
Assistant Professor, University of Pittsburgh Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pittsburgh, PA 

Research summary:

Dr. Scifres focuses on obesity and diabetes during pregnancy. She is conducting a targeted investigation of Fatty Acid Binding Protein 4 (FABP4), which is strongly linked to the development of insulin resistance and the metabolic syndrome. Having discovered that the expression of placental FABP4 is increased in women with obesity and diabetes. Dr. Scifres surmises that placental FABP4 action is casually linked to fetal macrosomia in pregnancies complicated by maternal diabetes.