Research

RESEARCH

Immune Regulation and Maternal-Fetal Health Study
Pinoy-Pinay Health Project

This study is part of an international, multidisciplinary project (“Microchimerism, Human Health and Evolution Project”) to understand how the bidirectional exchange of maternal and fetal cells (i.e., microchimerism, henceforth, MC) is sustained during pregnancy, and how the maternal immune system maintains tolerance for these fetal cells. Adverse pregnancy-related outcomes (e.g., preterm birth) have been linked with maternal immune dysregulation and an influx of fetal cells. This project aims to understand how the maternal immune system responds to fetal microchimeric cells (fMC) during pregnancy by incorporating the social environment to provide a more holistic understanding surrounding the experience of pregnancy, stress, and biology.
The Pinoy-Pinay Health (PH) Project works in collaboration with Mariano Marcos State University, Northwestern University, Laoag City, and organizations like the Save the Ifugao Rice Terraces Movement and recruits women from Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital. This project aims to examine how ecological stressors, including socio-political conditions, influence maternal-fetal dynamics and their biological systems among pregnant Filipina and Filipina American mothers. We explore the political landscape and the range of political beliefs, cultural norms, and stress responses connecting it to pregnancy and birth outcomes. The overarching goal is to understand what causes preterm birth, how health disparities manifest in this population, and how to address specific health-related needs.
MC Study Info
Meet the Microchimerism Team

PH Study Info
Comparative Gestation Project
Cross-cultural Definition of Stress

Gestational age varies widely across placental mammals. This is an important metric in assessing maternal and fetal health and is often used to identify preterm births (< 37 weeks in humans). While preterm births are on the rise in humans, leading to increased rates of maternal and infant-related mortality, there are huge gaps in the literature that limit our understanding of why preterm birth exists and whether preterm births extend beyond humans. We explore the scenarios when preterm birth may be an adaptation and why gestation varies considerably across species.
Cultural attitudes and norms influence individual conceptualization and manifestations of emotions, mental health, and illness. This is particularly significant when investigating perceived stress and stressors. Complicating the issue even further are the challenges associated with understanding what constituted a stressful environment in our evolutionary history and how such environments influenced human development We explore how stress is conceptualized in different cultural contexts and how it can inform public health initiatives aimed at mitigating mental health disparities. We also examine how variation in stress conceptualizations can shape developmental plasticity during pregnancy to help explain our past.

CG Study CWESS Poster
Looking to collaborate? Feel free to email me at kristinechua@ucsb.edu.

Looking to collaborate? Feel free to email me at kristinechua@ucsb.edu.