How has your work changed over the last year? “We are a placental biology lab, and that part of our research has stayed consistent, but over the past year we have looked into interactions between the placenta and other fetal organs. Specifically, interactions between the placenta and the fetal brain, because if the placenta is not functioning properly, then neurodevelopmental problems can arise. We’ve also studied heart development, which I think is fascinating. The heart and the placenta seem to develop in parallel and if one organ is not functioning properly, then it can impact the development of the other. I think we coped okay during COVID. It was certainly challenging because we are a very cohesive group, but we were able to adapt and continue to be productive. Graduate students were still able to go into the lab with limited capacity. But there was less interaction and certainly less collaboration. There were some experiments that we needed to put on hold due to decreased accessibility, which was a bit debilitating. But I think if we didn't have that limitation, we may have not shifted our projects to new areas.”
What does your day-to-day look like as a researcher and a professor?
Dr. Stephen Renaud Assistant Professor More about his research http://bit.ly/RenaudInfo Contact Info srenaud4@uwo.ca (519) 661-2111 Ext. 88272
“It depends on the month and the day. When not teaching I try to spend my mornings focusing on research and writing. I found that I needed to have some designated time because otherwise I would just be too distracted to accomplish that day’s goals. In the afternoons, I have scheduled times to meet with graduate students and any remaining time I use to catch up on other assignments. Some days are more open but others are really hectic with meeting after meeting. Every day is a new adventure!”
“We need to understand the placenta if we are to understand the development of all other organs.” 32
