Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Source: https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/atniehs/labs/rdbl
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:23
Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory | National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
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Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory
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Francesco J. Demayo, Ph.D.
Chief, Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Tel 984-287-3987
[email protected]
Carmen J. Williams, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Investigator
Tel 984-287-4313
Fax 301-480-2732
[email protected]
Research Summary
Disease and dysfunction of reproduction and reproductive organs are of great public health concern. Most reproductive disorders have unknown etiologies and environmental factors are likely contributors. To prevent or lessen the burden of environmentally-associated disease or dysfunction, research directed at understanding the mechanisms underlying key processes and identifying key target molecules is a crucial first step.
To this end, the Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory uses basic research to understand important toxicological principles in the context of reproductive and developmental health at a fundamental level. It is also translating information gained from these studies into applied toxicological testing systems and clinical studies and practice.
The Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory is comprised of research groups that study the mechanisms and molecules with key roles in reproduction and development. The purposes of these studies contribute toward:
Furnishing the basic information necessary to identify targets of environmental agents with detrimental effects on reproduction and development
Identifying the network of signals regulating developmental processes and events leading to the occurrence of developmental defects
Providing the advanced knowledge needed to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders that affect human reproductive health
Understanding the basic processes involved in regulating reproduction and development
Shared and Core Facilities
For more information about facilities that support research activities at the NIEHS campus, please see
Shared and Core Facilities
.
The Laboratory has the following research themes:
Analyzing the nature and role of molecular components modulating the estrogen receptor-mediated regulation of gene expression, the biochemical and molecular properties of estrogen receptor activation, and the roles and functions of the estrogen receptors in hormonally responsive tissues
Defining the processes that lead to the formation of different somatic cell lineages and tissue architecture in the fetal gonads
Determining the cell biology and signaling pathways regulating early mammalian embryogenesis and how the environment influences infertility
Determining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of nuclear receptor CAR activation, focusing on those xenobiotics that activate the receptor without directly binding and the mechanisms regulating CAR-mediated cell growth and death
Dissecting the genetic program underlying male germ cell development and function and defining the mechanisms that regulate these processes
Exploring the stressors present in the environment on human pregnancy, with a particular focus on placenta development, structure-and-function studies of placental specialized processes, and in vitro placenta modeling
Studying the molecular mechanisms regulating normal reproductive tract and pulmonary function
Principal Investigators
Male Reproduction & RNA Biology
Marcos Morgan, Ph.D.
Stadtman Investigator
Tel 984-287-3337
[email protected]
Pharmacogenetics
Masahiko Negishi, Ph.D. (Retired)
Scientist Emeritus
Tel 919-942-2918
[email protected]
Placental Cell Biology
Carlos M. Guardia, Ph.D.
Stadtman Investigator
Tel 984-287-3070
[email protected]
Pregnancy & Female Reproduction
Francesco J. Demayo, Ph.D.
Chief, Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Tel 984-287-3987
[email protected]
Reproductive Developmental Biology
Hung Chang H. Yao, Ph.D.
Senior Principal Investigator
Tel 984-287-4004
[email protected]
Reproductive Medicine
Carmen J. Williams, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Investigator
Tel 984-287-4313
Fax 301-480-2732
[email protected]
Scientific Support Staff
Margaret M. Scarboro
Administrative Technician
Tel 984-287-3824
[email protected]
Eugenia V. Thompson
Administrative Specialist
Tel 984-287-3819
[email protected]
Publications
Recent Publications
Gruzdev A, Jefferson W, Hagler T, Scott G, Ray M, Muse G, Sellers R, Williams C. Conplastic FVB/N-mt129S6/SvEvTac mice: A new tool for cancer research.
PloS one
.
2026;21(1):e0341557.
[
Abstract
Gruzdev A, Jefferson W, Hagler T, Scott G, Ray M, Muse G, Sellers R, Williams C. Conplastic FVB/N-mt129S6/SvEvTac mice: A new tool for cancer research. PloS one. 2026
]
Baptissart M, Gupta A, Perez M, Poirot A, Papas B, Guardia C, Morgan M. TENT5C extends Odf1 poly(A) tail to sustain sperm morphogenesis and fertility.
Nature communications
.
2026 Apr 20 [Epub ahead of print].
[
Abstract
Baptissart M, Gupta A, Perez M, Poirot A, Papas B, Guardia C, Morgan M. TENT5C extends Odf1 poly(A) tail to sustain sperm morphogenesis and fertility. Nature communications. 2026 Apr 20
]
Yi M, Montague Redecke S, Wang T, Bell-Hensley A, Li S, Massri A, Jukic A, DeMayo F. Impact of vitamin D deficiency on defective endometrial decidualization and the repressive role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the epigenomic network.
Pharmacological research
.
2026 Mar 17;227:108162.
[
Abstract
Yi M, Montague Redecke S, Wang T, Bell-Hensley A, Li S, Massri A, Jukic A, DeMayo F. Impact of vitamin D deficiency on defective endometrial decidualization and the repressive role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the epigenomic network. Pharmacological research. 2026 Mar 17
]
Basaly V, Henry Z, Taylor R, Kong B, Yang I, Brinker A, Yang Z, Zhou P, Joseph L, Aleksunes L, Buckley B, Negishi M, Guo G. Mutation of PXR phosphorylation motif at Ser347 disrupts lipid and bile acid homeostasis in diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in mice.
Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
.
2026 Feb;54(2):100222.
[
Abstract
Basaly V, Henry Z, Taylor R, Kong B, Yang I, Brinker A, Yang Z, Zhou P, Joseph L, Aleksunes L, Buckley B, Negishi M, Guo G. Mutation of PXR phosphorylation motif at Ser347 disrupts lipid and bile acid homeostasis in diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in mice. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals. 2026 Feb
]
Chen Y, Rodriguez K, Alexander A, Xu X, Papas B, Estermann M, Yao H. Single-nucleus multiomics of murine gonads reveals transcriptional regulatory network underlying supporting lineage differentiation.
Science advances
.
2026 Jan 02;12(1):eaea7403.
[
Abstract
Chen Y, Rodriguez K, Alexander A, Xu X, Papas B, Estermann M, Yao H. Single-nucleus multiomics of murine gonads reveals transcriptional regulatory network underlying supporting lineage differentiation. Science advances. 2026 Jan 02
]
More Recent Publications from PubMed
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: April 23, 2026
Skip Navigation
Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory
Close the left navigation
Add
Francesco J. Demayo, Ph.D.
Chief, Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Tel 984-287-3987
[email protected]
Carmen J. Williams, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Investigator
Tel 984-287-4313
Fax 301-480-2732
[email protected]
Research Summary
Disease and dysfunction of reproduction and reproductive organs are of great public health concern. Most reproductive disorders have unknown etiologies and environmental factors are likely contributors. To prevent or lessen the burden of environmentally-associated disease or dysfunction, research directed at understanding the mechanisms underlying key processes and identifying key target molecules is a crucial first step.
To this end, the Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory uses basic research to understand important toxicological principles in the context of reproductive and developmental health at a fundamental level. It is also translating information gained from these studies into applied toxicological testing systems and clinical studies and practice.
The Reproductive and Developmental Biology Laboratory is comprised of research groups that study the mechanisms and molecules with key roles in reproduction and development. The purposes of these studies contribute toward:
Furnishing the basic information necessary to identify targets of environmental agents with detrimental effects on reproduction and development
Identifying the network of signals regulating developmental processes and events leading to the occurrence of developmental defects
Providing the advanced knowledge needed to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders that affect human reproductive health
Understanding the basic processes involved in regulating reproduction and development
Shared and Core Facilities
For more information about facilities that support research activities at the NIEHS campus, please see
Shared and Core Facilities
.
The Laboratory has the following research themes:
Analyzing the nature and role of molecular components modulating the estrogen receptor-mediated regulation of gene expression, the biochemical and molecular properties of estrogen receptor activation, and the roles and functions of the estrogen receptors in hormonally responsive tissues
Defining the processes that lead to the formation of different somatic cell lineages and tissue architecture in the fetal gonads
Determining the cell biology and signaling pathways regulating early mammalian embryogenesis and how the environment influences infertility
Determining the molecular and cellular mechanisms of nuclear receptor CAR activation, focusing on those xenobiotics that activate the receptor without directly binding and the mechanisms regulating CAR-mediated cell growth and death
Dissecting the genetic program underlying male germ cell development and function and defining the mechanisms that regulate these processes
Exploring the stressors present in the environment on human pregnancy, with a particular focus on placenta development, structure-and-function studies of placental specialized processes, and in vitro placenta modeling
Studying the molecular mechanisms regulating normal reproductive tract and pulmonary function
Principal Investigators
Male Reproduction & RNA Biology
Marcos Morgan, Ph.D.
Stadtman Investigator
Tel 984-287-3337
[email protected]
Pharmacogenetics
Masahiko Negishi, Ph.D. (Retired)
Scientist Emeritus
Tel 919-942-2918
[email protected]
Placental Cell Biology
Carlos M. Guardia, Ph.D.
Stadtman Investigator
Tel 984-287-3070
[email protected]
Pregnancy & Female Reproduction
Francesco J. Demayo, Ph.D.
Chief, Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory and Principal Investigator
Tel 984-287-3987
[email protected]
Reproductive Developmental Biology
Hung Chang H. Yao, Ph.D.
Senior Principal Investigator
Tel 984-287-4004
[email protected]
Reproductive Medicine
Carmen J. Williams, M.D., Ph.D.
Senior Investigator
Tel 984-287-4313
Fax 301-480-2732
[email protected]
Scientific Support Staff
Margaret M. Scarboro
Administrative Technician
Tel 984-287-3824
[email protected]
Eugenia V. Thompson
Administrative Specialist
Tel 984-287-3819
[email protected]
Publications
Recent Publications
Gruzdev A, Jefferson W, Hagler T, Scott G, Ray M, Muse G, Sellers R, Williams C. Conplastic FVB/N-mt129S6/SvEvTac mice: A new tool for cancer research.
PloS one
.
2026;21(1):e0341557.
[
Abstract
Gruzdev A, Jefferson W, Hagler T, Scott G, Ray M, Muse G, Sellers R, Williams C. Conplastic FVB/N-mt129S6/SvEvTac mice: A new tool for cancer research. PloS one. 2026
]
Baptissart M, Gupta A, Perez M, Poirot A, Papas B, Guardia C, Morgan M. TENT5C extends Odf1 poly(A) tail to sustain sperm morphogenesis and fertility.
Nature communications
.
2026 Apr 20 [Epub ahead of print].
[
Abstract
Baptissart M, Gupta A, Perez M, Poirot A, Papas B, Guardia C, Morgan M. TENT5C extends Odf1 poly(A) tail to sustain sperm morphogenesis and fertility. Nature communications. 2026 Apr 20
]
Yi M, Montague Redecke S, Wang T, Bell-Hensley A, Li S, Massri A, Jukic A, DeMayo F. Impact of vitamin D deficiency on defective endometrial decidualization and the repressive role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the epigenomic network.
Pharmacological research
.
2026 Mar 17;227:108162.
[
Abstract
Yi M, Montague Redecke S, Wang T, Bell-Hensley A, Li S, Massri A, Jukic A, DeMayo F. Impact of vitamin D deficiency on defective endometrial decidualization and the repressive role of vitamin D receptor (VDR) in the epigenomic network. Pharmacological research. 2026 Mar 17
]
Basaly V, Henry Z, Taylor R, Kong B, Yang I, Brinker A, Yang Z, Zhou P, Joseph L, Aleksunes L, Buckley B, Negishi M, Guo G. Mutation of PXR phosphorylation motif at Ser347 disrupts lipid and bile acid homeostasis in diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in mice.
Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals
.
2026 Feb;54(2):100222.
[
Abstract
Basaly V, Henry Z, Taylor R, Kong B, Yang I, Brinker A, Yang Z, Zhou P, Joseph L, Aleksunes L, Buckley B, Negishi M, Guo G. Mutation of PXR phosphorylation motif at Ser347 disrupts lipid and bile acid homeostasis in diet-induced metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis in mice. Drug metabolism and disposition: the biological fate of chemicals. 2026 Feb
]
Chen Y, Rodriguez K, Alexander A, Xu X, Papas B, Estermann M, Yao H. Single-nucleus multiomics of murine gonads reveals transcriptional regulatory network underlying supporting lineage differentiation.
Science advances
.
2026 Jan 02;12(1):eaea7403.
[
Abstract
Chen Y, Rodriguez K, Alexander A, Xu X, Papas B, Estermann M, Yao H. Single-nucleus multiomics of murine gonads reveals transcriptional regulatory network underlying supporting lineage differentiation. Science advances. 2026 Jan 02
]
More Recent Publications from PubMed
Back
to Top
Last Reviewed: April 23, 2026