Nataki C. Douglas, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor, Director of Translational Research in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Health at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Douglas obtained her MD and PhD degrees from Yale University School of Medicine, Medical Scientist Training Program. She completed Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Dr. Douglas is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility physician-scientist with formal training in developmental biology.

A successful pregnancy depends on embryo implantation into the uterine endometrium, followed by proper placentation and placental function. Abnormal uterine vascular development and inadequate placental vascularization lead to placental dysfunction, which is associated with human pregnancy complications, such as recurrent spontaneous miscarriages and preeclampsia. Dr. Douglas seeks to develop new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to infertility and disorders of human pregnancy that arise from placental dysfunction. She has particular interest in deepening our understanding of the relationship between ovarian stimulation, endometrial receptivity and the development of preeclampsia.

Dr. Douglas’ research program incorporates basic and translational studies to define the endometrial microenvironment needed to support embryo implantation and placenta formation. Her lab uses mouse models, human specimens, and primary and transformed human cells in their experiments to determine basic biologic mechanism as the foundation for improving outcomes in pregnancy-related disorders. Dr. Douglas’ team has identified signaling pathways that mediate vascular development at the maternal-fetal interface during endometrial decidualization and placenta formation. The Douglas lab is highly collaborative and works with laboratories at many other academic institutions.