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Karen Chapman's research focuses on glucocorticoid action, specifically how steroid hormones play key roles in stress and inflammatory homeostatic responses during development. Her work emphasizes the developmental effects of glucocorticoids, particularly fetal programming, which has been recognized for over 50 years as essential for fetal lung maturation in preparation for life at birth. The lab investigates the implications of glucocorticoid exposure during pregnancy, revealing that while past assumptions deemed synthetic glucocorticoids safe, emerging evidence indicates potential harm from excessive fetal exposure. Dr. Chapman has made significant discoveries regarding endogenous glucocorticoid action and its impact on maturing fetal hearts, probing mechanisms that govern glucocorticoid action during the perinatal period and how this shapes cardiomyocyte endowment into adulthood. Her research also explores the immuno-modulatory and metabolic effects of the enzyme 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD1), uncovering its pivotal role in regulating glucocorticoid metabolism and influencing immune and inflammatory responses as well as metabolic processes related to bile acid homeostasis.
University of Edinburgh • Edinburgh, UK
Lead research on glucocorticoid action and its effects on development and metabolism.
Department of Marketing