Description of Research Expertise

My laboratory focuses on examining the effects of the maternal environment on early implantation and placentation. For example, we are examining the role of ART technologies such as superovulation and frozen embryo transfer on implantation and placentation, as a model for how the maternal hormonal milieu affects early placentation. We are also interested in epigenetic changes, specifically DNA methylation, occurring following ART and how this affects placentation, fetal growth and long-term health of the offspring. In addition, we have developed novel methods to study early human embryo implantation, including a "implantation-on-a-chip" device which is being used to study cells and factors regulating early trophoblast invasion at the earliest point of pregnancy establishment. Specifically we are examining how maternal immune cell subtypes play a role in placentation and may play a role in adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Selected Publications

Leigh A Humphries, Jeremy Applebaum, Monica A Mainigi, Caitlin Martin, Divya K Shah: Predicting a successful match among applicants to reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship Fertil Steril Epub : 2024.

Thea N Golden, Sneha Mani, Rebecca L Linn, Rita Leite, Natalie A Trigg, Annette Wilson, Lauren Anton, Monica Mainigi, Colin C Conine, Brett A Kaufman, Jerome F Strauss, Samuel Parry, Rebecca A Simmons: Extracellular vesicles alter trophoblast function in pregnancies complicated by COVID-19 bioRxiv : 2024.

Sneha Mani, James Garifallou, Se-jeong Kim, Michael K. Simoni, Dan Dongeun Huh, Scott M. Gordon and Monica Mainigi: Uterine macrophages and NK cells exhibit population and gene-level changes after implantation but maintain pro-invasive properties Frontiers in Immunology 15:1364036 : 2024.

Simoni MK, Negatu SG, Park JY, Mani S, Arreguin MC, Amses K, Huh DD, Mainigi M, Jurado KA.: Type I interferon alters invasive extravillous trophoblast function. bioRxiv : 2024.

Hunter D. Reavis*, Stefan M. Gysler*, Grace B. McKenney, Matthew Knarr, Hannah J. Lusk, Priyanka Rawat, Hannah S. Rendulich, Marilyn Mitchell, Dara S. Berger, Jamie S. Moon, Suyeon Ryu, Monica Mainigi, Marcin P. Iwanicki, Dave S. Hoon, Laura M. Sanchez, Ronny Drapkin: Norepinephrine induces anoikis resistance in high-grade serous ovarian cancer precursor cells JCI Insight 9(5):e170961 : 2024.

Soledad Henríquez, Maria Jose Valdivia, Monica Mainigi, Claudio Villarroel, Luis Velasquez, Jerome F. Strauss III, Luigi Devoto: The role of estrogen metabolites in human ovarian function Steroids 203:109368 : 2024.

Rhon-Calderon EA, Hemphill CN, Vrooman LA, Rosier CL, Lan Y, Ord T, Coutifaris C, Mainigi M, Schultz RM, Bartolomei MS.: Trophectoderm biopsy of blastocysts following IVF and embryo culture increases epigenetic dysregulation in a mouse model Human Reproduction 39(1) : 154-176,2024.

Lee IT, Berger DS, Koelper N, Senapati S, Mainigi M.: Race, ovarian responsiveness, and live birth after in vitro fertilization Fertility and Sterility 120(5) : 1023-1032,2023.

Suneeta Senapati, M.D., Jayashri Ghosh, PhD, Charikleia Kalliora, MD, MSc, Olivia Hatton, BS, Christos Coutifaris, M.D., PH.D., Marisa Bartolomei, PhD and Monica A Mainigi, M.D: Trophectoderm Biopsy is Associated with Perturbations in Placental DNA Methylation in Pregnancies After Frozen-Thawed Embryo Transfer American Society for Reproductive Medicine : 2023.

Kanter J, Gordon SM, Mani S, Sokalska A, Park JY, Senapati S, Huh DD, Mainigi M.: Hormonal stimulation reduces numbers and impairs function of human uterine natural killer cells during implantation. Hum Reproduction 38(6) : 1047-1059,2023.

Academic Contact Information

Clinical Practice:
PENN Fertility Care
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3701 Market Street, 8th Floor

Lab:
421 Curie Blvd BRB II/III Room 1352
Philadelphia, PA 19104
Phone: 215-662-2972
Patient appointments: 800-789-7366