Dr. Ryan Ashley, Co-Director of our New Mexico INBRE program and NMSU Animal and Range Sciences professor examines placenta development and dysfunction as part of his research. His major field of Interest is Reproductive Physiology with an emphasis in recognition and maintenance of pregnancy. He’s exploring placental development and methods of preventing placental dysfunction, which leads to pregnancy complications in both humans and livestock. Dr. Ashley’s laboratory has two focus areas: progesterone’s actions mediated by membrane receptors and chemokines’ effects in early pregnancy and breast cancer. One goal of his laboratory is to elucidate the functions of membrane progesterone receptors (MPRs) in normal and compromised pregnancies, as well as their roles in reproductive cancers. Dr. Ashley’s research aims to help women experience successful pregnancies.