Skip to main content
Department of Pathology Department of Pathology

Soncin Lab

  1. Department of Pathology
  2. Research
  3. Faculty Labs
  4. Soncin Lab

Francesca Soncin, Ph.D.

francesca soncinDr. Francesca Soncin is a stem cell biologist interested in early placenta development and trophoblast stem cells. She joined the faculty of the Pathology Department at UC San Diego in November 2020. She is also a faculty member of the UC San Diego Center for Perinatal Discovery and a FIRbee (class 2013).

 

 

 

We study the trophoblast stem cell niche in the placenta.

The placenta has evolved in eutherian mammals to accommodate the development of the embryo inside a host body, leading to live birth (viviparity).

We study the mechanisms that establish a trophoblast stem cell population during early development, which then differentiate to form the mature placenta in both normal and diseased pregnancies. Defects in the establishment and function of the trophoblast compartment of the placenta have been associated with multiple pregnancy disorders, including pregnancy loss and preeclampsia, and observed in genetic disorders, such as Trisomy 21. In our research, we use pluripotent stem cells, placental primary cells, and both small and large (non-traditional) animal models to study trophoblast stem and progenitor cells.

Explore the Lab

Projects

Explore the innovative research at Dr. Francesca Soncin's lab, where our projects focus on understanding the mechanisms of placental development and disease.

See Projects

Publications

Dive into our latest findings and contributions to the field of placental biology through our published research.

See Publications

Soncin lab team

The Team

The lab is located in the Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, and it is comprised of a diverse group of post-doctoral fellows, graduate students, and research associates. The lab is funded with grants awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM) as well as institutional grants. The Soncin Lab is committed to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion, as steppingstones to scientific excellence.

Meet Our Team

Gallery