Scientist, Chronic Disease, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Associate Professor - GFT
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
University of Ottawa
Research Interests
It is my tenet that most risks associated with pregnancy begin in the placenta. Placental research was the core of my Fellowship Training at the University of California in San Diego, and I have imported that research interest to Ottawa when I joined the Loeb Institute.
The focus of my dedicated research at the OHRI is the regulation of fetoplacental growth. Clinical research activities are focused on the treatment of hypertension in pregnancy, and the identification of a severity score to evaluate pre-eclampsia, a disease associated and related to poor placental growth and development. In particular, our work has focused on mechanisms important in the control of trophoblast apoptosis, and the influence of smoking on genes and proteins involved, such as Xiap. In addition, we have concentrated on the importance of signaling pathways in trophoblasts invasion. More recently, this has led us to investigate the role of novel gene, Pc4 in the regulation of processing IgF2 in the placenta.
Bibliographical Sketch
Dr. Gruslin completed her M.D. training at the University of Ottawa in 1989; her residency in Obs/Gyn in 1994, and went on to San Diego's University of California for her Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Training. She studied under Dr. Moore in the Department of Reproductive Medicine.
She completed her training in Maternal-Fetal Medicine in 1996, and returned to Ottawa as a practicing specialist and junior scientist the same year.
Current Research Activities & Funding Sources
Prospective Evaluation of Intra-Placental Flow Resistance by Doppler in Normal Pregnancies and Pregnancies at Risk of Fetal Growth Restriction (as co-Investigator); 10,000$ PSI 2002-2004.
Role of P13-K in Signaling Pathway in Mediating Smoking-Induced Inhibition of Trophoblast Invasion. Grant: Philip Morris External Research Program; 448,000 $ (2002-2005).
CHIPS Trial (Control of Hypertension in Pregnancy Study (as co-applicant). Original grant : CIHR 501,925 $2004-2007).
P.I.E.R.S. (Pre-eclampsia Integrated Estimate of Risk). Multicenters Trial. Funded by C.I.H.R. 300,000$ (2004-2007).
rhAPC in Pre-Eclampsia. Multicenters Trial. Funded by C.I.H.R. 380,000$ (2004-2007).
Administration
Chair Faculty Research Day Organizing Committee, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Chair Maternal-Fetal Fellowship Training Program Committee
Member Reproductive Biology Workshop Organization Committee
Member Postgraduate Research Committee
Member Medical Genetics Residency Program Committee
Neonatology and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Fellowship Training Programs
Conferences
Since 1995 Society for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI) - posters presentation (annually)
2000 Canada-Japan Bilateral Exchange in Reproductive Biology and Human Reproduction
2001 Symposium: A Biology of Cellular Invasiveness: Paths of Convergence in Pregnancy and Malingnancy
2001 VIPER (Vancouver Interdisciplinary Pre-Eclampsia and Fetal Growth Restriction Group Meeting
2002 ISSHP (International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregrancy)
2004 Perinatal Research Society Meeting
2004 North American Society of Hypertension in Pregnancy
PUBLICATIONS
Book Chapters
1- Gruslin A., Moore T.R. Erythroblastosis Fetalis. In: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Diseases of the Fetus and Infant. 6th ed. Ch. 19. Pages 300-311. Pub Faranoff and Martin, 1997; 7th ed. - 2000; 8th ed. 2004.
2- Nimrod C., Gruslin A. The Biology of Normal and Deviant Fetal Growth and Medicine of the Fetus and Mother. 2nd ed. Reece E.A., Roblins J.S. (Chapter 17); 1999: 267-80.
3- Pretorius D., Gruslin A. Hydrops and Ascites In: Diagnostic Ultrasound of Fetal Anomalies. Text and Atlas. Eds. Nyberg. Mahoney and Pretorius. Mosby Pub (2002); Chapter 16; p.p. 713-44.
Articles
(partial list)
1- Vora M.., Gruslin A. Clinical Uses of Erythropoietin in Obstetrics. Obstetrical and Gynecological Survey. 1998; 53(8): 500-8.
2- Gruslin A. The Role of Erythropoietin in the Mother and Fetus. Journal SOGC. 1998; 20(11): 1083-91.
3- Gruslin A., Perkins S., Manchanda R., Fleming N., Clinch J. Maternal Smoking and Fetal Erythropoietin Levels. Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2000; 95(4): 561-4.
4- Gruslin A., Qiu Q., Tsang B.K. X-Lined Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein Expression and the Regulation of Apoptosis during Placental Development. Biology of Reproduction. 64; 12640-72. 2001.
5- Scott H., Walker M., Gruslin A. The Significance of Meconium Stained Amniotic Fluid in the Preterm Population. Journal of Perinatology, June 2001: 21(3); 174-7.
6- Gruslin A., Qiu Q., Tsang B.K. Influence of Maternal Smoking on Trophoblast Apoptosis throughout Development. Possible Involvement of XIHP Regulation. Biology of Reproduction. 65: 1164-69; 2001.
7- McDonald S., Gruslin A. Campylobacter in Pregnancy. Case report and Review of the Literature. Primary Care Update for Obs/Gyn. 8;6, p. 253-257; 2001.
8- Boucher M., Cohen H., Gruslin A., et al. Mode of delivery for Pregnant Women infected with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Journal SOGC, Vol. 23, No. 4. April 2001, p. 348-752.
9- Sallout, B.I., Gruslin A. Perinatal Infections. Canadian Journal of CME. Vol. 14;1: January 2002.
10- Crane Joan, Boucher Marc, Cohen Howen, Gruslin Andree, et al. Parvovirus B19 Infection in Pregnancy. SOGC Clinical Practice Guidelines. JOGC September 2002; 119; 727-734.
11- Caetano M., Ornstein M., von Dadelszen P., Hannah M.E., Logan A.G., Gruslin A., Magee L.A. A Survey of Canadian practitioners regarding the diagnosis and evaluation of the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Hypertens Prgn. Inf. 2002:21.
12- McDonald S., Faught W., Gruslin A. Cervical cancer in Pregnancy. A Review. J. Obstet Gynaecol Can 2002; 24(6): 491-8.
13- Roberts H.J., Hu S., Qiu Q., Leugn P.C., Caniggia I., Gruslin A., Tsang B., Feng C. Identification of Novel Isoforms of Activin Receptor-Like Kinase 7 (ALK7) Generated by Alternative Splicing and Expression of ALK7 and its Ligand, Nodal, in Human Placenta. Biol. Reprod. 2003 May; 68(5); 1719-26. Epub 2002, Dec 27.
14- Qiu Q., Tsang B.K., Gruslin A. The Role of Fas Ligan in the interaction of intravillous trophoblasts and maternal leukocytes: Immune privilege and control of invasion. Submitted to Journal of Reproductive Immunology (2004).
15- Caetano M., Ornstein M., von Dadelszen P., Hannah M.E., Logan A.G., Gruslin A., Magee L.A. A Survey of Canadian Practitioners regarding the Management of the Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. Hypertens Pregnancy. 2004; 23(1), pp. 61-74.
16- Q. Qiu, M. Yang, B.K. Tsang, A. Gruslin. EGF-Induced Trophoblast Secretion of MMP-9 and TIMP0-1 Involves Activation of both P13K and MAPK Signaling Pathways. Reproduction. 2004 Sep; 128(3): 355-63.
17- Q. Qiu, M. Yang, B.K. Tsang, A. Gruslin. Both mitogen-activated protein kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling are required in epidermal growth factor-induced human trophoblast migration. Mol Hum Reprod. 2004 Sep; 10(9): 677-684. Epub 2004 Jul 02.
18- Qing Qiu, Mingyan Yan, Ajoy Basak, Majambu Mbikay, Benjamin K. Tsang, Andree Gruslin. The Expression and Functional Role of Proprotein PC4 in Human Placental Development via Processing of Pro IGH-11 (Submitted PNAS 2004).
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