Vasso Terzidou is a Clinical Reader (Associate Professor) in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital.

She leads the prematurity services for Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London and her principal research interests are the biochemistry and endocrinology of human labour and the prediction and prevention of preterm birth and adverse pregnancy outcomes.

The principal areas of her research are examining

-Causes underlying uterine biology leading to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm delivery and fetal growth disorders.

-Investigation of circulating microRNAs and their diagnostic application for preterm birth prediction as well as understanding the mechanism by which uterine microRNAs can modulate inflammatory pathways in the uterus.

-Investigation of circulating microRNAs and their diagnostic application for early identification of other pregnancy complications such as growth restriction.

-Investigation of circulating microRNAs and their diagnostic application for early identification of miscarriages, pregnancies of unknown location and ectopic pregnancies

-Collaboration with Imperial College Bioengineering Department for the development of a bedside test for detection of circulating miRNAs to predict pregnancy complications.

-Large-scale validation studies of miRNA biomarkers for early detection of subsequent preterm birth in low-risk population.

-OT/OT receptor modulation for management of term and preterm labour.

-GPCR activity in pregnancy and labour, including interactions of oxytocin and prostaglandin receptors to identify a multi-target therapeutic strategy that controls myometrial contractility and uterine inflammation.

-Development and testing of novel tocolytics through industrial collaboration partnerships.

MicroRNA Biomarkers to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes theme

Early identification of circulating microRNAs in blood that are highly predictive of subsequent preterm birth and cervical shortening (European and International Patent granted). There is an urgent need for a test to predict women who will subsequently deliver preterm. These women can receive targeted antenatal surveillance and prophylactic interventions. (ie progesterone or cervical cerclage).
Identification of circulating microRNAs able to predict pregnancy complications such as growth restriction (Patent granted)
Identification of circulating microRNAs able to differentiate early pregnancy complications such as miscarriages, pregnancies of unknown location and ectopic pregnancies (Patent filed)
Collaboration with Imperial Bioengineering Department (Dr Sylvain Ladame) to develop a bedside miRNA detection test to predict adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Currently conducting large-scale validation studies of microRNAs biomarkers of preterm birth in a low-risk population with 3800 women recruited (PROPER study- funded by March of Dimes).
Collaboration with Professor Henrik Hagberg- a validation study of microRNAs biomarkers of preterm birth in a Swedish cohort of low-risk women (11036 women with 411 women delivering