Dr Emma Lucas
PhD, MMedSci, BSc (Hons)
School of Medicine and Population Health
Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine
e.s.lucas@sheffield.ac.uk
+44 114 215 9044
+44 114 215 9044
Room EU23, E Floor, The Medical School
Full contact details
Dr Emma Lucas
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room EU23, E Floor
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
School of Medicine and Population Health
Room EU23, E Floor
The Medical School
Beech Hill Road
Sheffield
S10 2RX
- Profile
-
For enquiries please contact - SMPH-West-Operational@sheffield.ac.uk
I studied undergraduate Human Biology (Loughborough University, UK) followed by a Masters degree in Assisted Reproduction Technology (University of Nottingham, UK) before obtaining my PhD from the University of Nottingham, UK. I undertook Postdoctoral positions at the University of Southampton, looking at the role of maternal environment on offspring development and long-term health, and then at the University of Warwick, where I investigated the role of the endometrium in recurrent miscarriage. I joined the University of Sheffield in October 2023 as Lecturer in Reproductive Medicine.
- Qualifications
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- Human Biology, BSc (Hons) – Loughborough University, UK
- Assisted Reproduction Technology, MMedSci (Distinction) – University of Nottingham, UK
- PhD Obstetrics and Gynaecology – University of Nottingham, UK
- Research interests
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We are interested in the function of the endometrium, particularly around the time of embryo implantation, in determining pregnancy outcomes. We study the role of intrinsic and extrinsic factors on endometrial function and in reproductive dysfunction to identify the impact these have on interactions with the embryo, establishment of the placenta and the short- and long-term implications for offspring health.
- Publications
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Show: Featured publications All publications
Featured publications
Journal articles
- Miscarriage syndrome: Linking early pregnancy loss to obstetric and age-related disorders. eBioMedicine, 81, 104134-104134.
- Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss. The Lancet, 397(10285), 1658-1667.
- Impact of sitagliptin on endometrial mesenchymal stem-like progenitor cells: A randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility trial. EBioMedicine, 51, 102597-102597.
- Regulation of ribosomal RNA expression across the lifespan is fine-tuned by maternal diet before implantation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1859(7), 906-913.
- Loss of Endometrial Plasticity in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Stem Cells, 34(2), 346-356.
- Decidualization Induces a Secretome Switch in Perivascular Niche Cells of the Human Endometrium. Endocrinology, 155(11), 4542-4553.
- Maternal low-protein diet during mouse pre-implantation development induces vascular dysfunction and altered renin–angiotensin-system homeostasis in the offspring. British Journal of Nutrition, 103(12), 1762-1770.
- Human embryonic stem cell methyl cycle enzyme expression: modelling epigenetic programming in assisted reproduction?. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 10(6), 755-766.
- Modelling the impact of decidual senescence on embryo implantation in human endometrial assembloids. eLife, 10.
- Recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with a pro-senescent decidual response during the peri-implantation window. Communications Biology, 3(1).
- Clearance of senescent decidual cells by uterine natural killer cells in cycling human endometrium. eLife, 6.
Preprints
- Involvement of uterine natural killer cells in the natural selection of human embryos at implantation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
All publications
Journal articles
- Preimplantation exposure to viral dsRNA impairs decidualization leading to altered placental development and fetal growth restriction. Reproduction and Fertility, 7(3). View this article in WRRO
- Stalling of the endometrial decidual reaction determines the recurrence risk of miscarriage. Science Advances, 11(26).
- The endoplasmic reticulum protein HSPA5/BiP is essential for decidual transformation of human endometrial stromal cells. Scientific Reports, 14. View this article in WRRO
- Spatial-temporal regulation of the prostanoid receptor EP2 co-ordinates PGE2-mediated cAMP signaling in decidualizing human endometrium. iScience, 27(11), 111170-111170.
- Endoplasmic reticulum chaperone BiP regulates ER stress and cell fate of endometrial stromal cells during the decidualization program. Placenta, 153, e35-e35.
- Dynamic chromatin remodeling in cycling human endometrium at single-cell level. Cell Reports, 42(12). View this article in WRRO
- Endometrial fate decisions at implantation and the risk of recurrent miscarriage. Placenta, 140, e3-e4.
- P-349 Modelling the impact of acute and chronic decidual senescence on endometrial stemness in 3D assembloids. Human Reproduction, 38(Supplement_1).
- MicroRNAs emerging coordinate with placental mammals alter pathways in endometrial epithelia important for endometrial function. iScience, 26(4), 106339-106339.
- P-436 EndoTime: Non-categorical timing estimates for luteal endometrium. Human Reproduction, 37(Supplement_1).
- O-302 Lower expression of AHCY is associated with increased miscarriage risk. Human Reproduction, 37(Supplement_1).
- O-300 Immune deficiency and endometrial dyshomeostasis in recurrent miscarriages. Human Reproduction, 37(Supplement_1).
- Miscarriage syndrome: Linking early pregnancy loss to obstetric and age-related disorders. eBioMedicine, 81, 104134-104134.
- Expression and function of the luteinizing hormone choriogonadotropin receptor in human endometrial stromal cells. Scientific Reports, 12(1). View this article in WRRO
- Maternal selection of human embryos in early gestation: Insights from recurrent miscarriage. Seminars in Cell & Developmental Biology, 131, 14-24.
- EndoTime: non-categorical timing estimates for luteal endometrium. Human Reproduction, 37(4), 747-761. View this article in WRRO
- Organoids to model the endometrium: implantation and beyond. Reproduction and Fertility, 2(3), R85-R101.
- Miscarriage matters: the epidemiological, physical, psychological, and economic costs of early pregnancy loss. The Lancet, 397(10285), 1658-1667.
- Characterization of Highly Proliferative Decidual Precursor Cells During the Window of Implantation in Human Endometrium. Stem Cells, 39(8), 1067-1080.
- Embryo biosensing by uterine natural killer cells determines endometrial fate decisions at implantation. The FASEB Journal, 35(4).
- Periconception maternal low-protein diet adversely affects male mouse fetal bone growth and mineral density quality in late gestation. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 12(3), 384-395.
- Impact of sitagliptin on endometrial mesenchymal stem-like progenitor cells: A randomised, double-blind placebo-controlled feasibility trial. EBioMedicine, 51, 102597-102597.
- Single-Cell Transcriptomics: A High-Resolution Avenue for Plant Functional Genomics. Trends in Plant Science, 25(2), 186-197.
- Analysis of chromatin accessibility in decidualizing human endometrial stromal cells. The FASEB Journal, 32(5), 2467-2477.
- The Long-Term Effects of the Periconceptional Period on Embryo Epigenetic Profile and Phenotype; The Paternal Role and His Contribution, and How Males Can Affect Offspring’s Phenotype/Epigenetic Profile, 137-154.
- Deregulation of the endometrial stromal cell secretome precedes embryo implantation failure. MHR: Basic science of reproductive medicine, 23(8), 582-582.
- Deregulation of the endometrial stromal cell secretome precedes embryo implantation failure. MHR: Basic science of reproductive medicine, 23(7), 478-487.
- Success after failure: the role of endometrial stem cells in recurrent miscarriage. Reproduction, 152(5), R159-R166.
- Progesterone-Dependent Induction of Phospholipase C-Related Catalytically Inactive Protein 1 (PRIP-1) in Decidualizing Human Endometrial Stromal Cells. Endocrinology, 157(7), 2883-2893.
- Regulation of ribosomal RNA expression across the lifespan is fine-tuned by maternal diet before implantation. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Gene Regulatory Mechanisms, 1859(7), 906-913.
- Loss of Endometrial Plasticity in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. Stem Cells, 34(2), 346-356.
- Maternal nutrition modifies trophoblast giant cell phenotype and fetal growth in mice. REPRODUCTION, 149(6), 563-575.
- Epigenetic regulation of histone modifications and Gata6 gene expression induced by maternal diet in mouse embryoid bodies in a model of developmental programming. BMC Developmental Biology, 15(1).
- The clock protein period 2 synchronizes mitotic expansion and decidual transformation of human endometrial stromal cells. The FASEB Journal, 29(4), 1603-1614.
- Decidualization Induces a Secretome Switch in Perivascular Niche Cells of the Human Endometrium. Endocrinology, 155(11), 4542-4553.
- Reprint of: Uterine plasticity and reproductive fitness. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 27(6), 664-672.
- Elevated Periimplantation Uterine Natural Killer Cell Density in Human Endometrium Is Associated With Impaired Corticosteroid Signaling in Decidualizing Stromal Cells. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 98(11), 4429-4437.
- LRH-1: orphaned, adopted and needed for pregnancy. Nature Medicine, 19(8), 968-969.
- Uterine plasticity and reproductive fitness. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 27(5), 506-514.
- Epigenetic effects on the embryo as a result of periconceptional environment and assisted reproduction technology. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 27(5), 477-485.
- Induction of 11β-HSD 1 and Activation of Distinct Mineralocorticoid Receptor- and Glucocorticoid Receptor-Dependent Gene Networks in Decidualizing Human Endometrial Stromal Cells. Molecular Endocrinology, 27(2), 192-202.
- Nutrition of females during the peri-conceptional period and effects on foetal programming and health of offspring. Animal Reproduction Science, 130(3-4), 193-197.
- Adaptive responses of the embryo to maternal diet and consequences for post-implantation development. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, 24(1), 35-35.
- Tissue-specific selection of reference genes is required for expression studies in the mouse model of maternal protein undernutrition. Theriogenology, 76(3), 558-569.
- Maternal low-protein diet during mouse pre-implantation development induces vascular dysfunction and altered renin–angiotensin-system homeostasis in the offspring. British Journal of Nutrition, 103(12), 1762-1770.
- Impact of the periconceptional environment on the programming of adult disease. Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease, 1(2), 87-95.
- The impact of maternal high fat nutrition on the next generation: food for thought?. The Journal of Physiology, 587(14), 3425-3426.
- Region-specific DNA methylation in the preimplantation embryo as a target for genomic plasticity. Theriogenology, 68, S98-S106.
- Epigenetics and the germline. Reproduction, 129(2), 137-149.
- Human embryonic stem cell methyl cycle enzyme expression: modelling epigenetic programming in assisted reproduction?. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 10(6), 755-766.
- CD138 expression in the endometrium associates with endometrial timing and inflammatory status but not microbiota composition. Human Reproduction.
- New models of implantation: towards a whole better than the sum of parts. Human Reproduction.
- Modelling the impact of decidual senescence on embryo implantation in human endometrial assembloids. eLife, 10.
- Exometabolomic Analysis of Decidualizing Human Endometrial Stromal and Perivascular Cells. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 9.
- Vascular Adhesion Protein-1 Determines the Cellular Properties of Endometrial Pericytes. Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, 8.
- Recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with a pro-senescent decidual response during the peri-implantation window. Communications Biology, 3(1).
- Clearance of senescent decidual cells by uterine natural killer cells in cycling human endometrium. eLife, 6.
- Uterine Selection of Human Embryos at Implantation. Scientific Reports, 4(1).
- Deficiency in Clonogenic Endometrial Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Obese Women with Reproductive Failure – a Pilot Study. PLoS ONE, 8(12), e82582-e82582.
- Disordered IL-33/ST2 Activation in Decidualizing Stromal Cells Prolongs Uterine Receptivity in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. PLoS ONE, 7(12), e52252-e52252.
- Maternal Periconceptional and Gestational Low Protein Diet Affects Mouse Offspring Growth, Cardiovascular and Adipose Phenotype at 1 Year of Age. PLoS ONE, 6(12), e28745-e28745.
Book chapters
- Implantation, Early Pregnancy (pp. 32-42). Cambridge University Press
- Endometrial Assembloids to Model Human Embryo Implantation In Vitro, Methods in Molecular Biology (pp. 63-74). Springer US
Conference proceedings
- Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 3 Inhibits Endometrial DNA Repair with Negative Consequences for Subsequent Pregnancy.. REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, Vol. 31 (pp 185A-186A)
- Modelling the impact of acute and chronic decidual senescence on endometrial stemness in 3D assembloids. HUMAN REPRODUCTION, Vol. 38
- The role of PGF2α in the development of labour and how FP antagonists could prevent preterm birth. BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Vol. 180(4) (pp 507-508)
- Immune deficiency and endometrial dyshomeostasis in recurrent miscarriages. HUMAN REPRODUCTION, Vol. 37 (pp I179-I179)
- Lower expression of AHCY is associated with increased miscarriage risk. HUMAN REPRODUCTION, Vol. 37 (pp I180-I180)
- The importance of timing in detection of asymptomatic CD138 diagnosed chronic endometritis. HUMAN REPRODUCTION, Vol. 35 (pp I285-I285)
- Aberrant Specification of Endometrial Stromal Cells into Distinct Decidual Subpopulations in Recurrent Pregnancy Loss.. REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, Vol. 26 (pp 198A-198A)
- Pre-conception sitagliptin increases endometrial clonogenicity in women with recurrent pregnancy loss. A double blind randomised placebo controlled trial. BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Vol. 126(6) (pp E136-E136)
- Pre-Conception Sitagliptin Increases Endometrial Clonogenicity in Women with Recurrent Pregnancy Loss. A Double Blind Randomised Placebo Controlled Trial.. REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, Vol. 26 (pp 294A-294A)
- High-Throughput Single-Cell RNA-Seq Analysis of the Mid-Luteal Human Endometrium.. REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, Vol. 26 (pp 378A-378A)
- The use of a novel single-cell sequencing technology, Drop-Seq, to unravel tumour heterogeneity and identify potential chemoresistant cells in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. BJOG-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF OBSTETRICS AND GYNAECOLOGY, Vol. 125(8) (pp E38-E38)
- Analysis of the Dynamic Changes in Chromatin Accessibility in Decidualizing Human Endometrial Stromal Cells.. REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, Vol. 25 (pp 96A-97A)
- PER2 Synchronizes Mitotic Transition and Decidual Transformation of Human Endometrial Stromal Cells. REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES, Vol. 22 (pp 82A-83A)
- MATERNAL DIET ALTERS FETAL BONE DEVELOPMENT. OSTEOPOROSIS INTERNATIONAL, Vol. 23 (pp S605-S606)
Preprints
- Whole slide image analysis of the endometrial decidual reaction reveals multiscale perturbations associated with miscarriage, openRxiv.
- An evolutionarily conserved microRNA, miR-185, regulates key pathways that may contribute to implantation failure., Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Stalling of the endometrial decidual reaction determines the recurrence risk of miscarriage, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- The Endoplasmic Reticulum protein HSPA5/BiP is essential for decidual transformation of human endometrial stromal cells, Springer Science and Business Media LLC.
- Spatial targeting of the prostaglandin receptor EP2 to very early endosomes co-ordinates PGE2-mediated cAMP signaling in decidualizing human endometrium, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Dynamic chromatin remodeling in cycling human endometrium at single cell level, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Placental mammal derived microRNAs alter pathways in the endometrial epithelia important for endometrial function, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Lack of evidence for functional luteinising hormone chorionic gonadotropin receptors in non-pregnant human endometrial stromal cells, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- EndoTime: Non-categorical timing estimates for luteal endometrium, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Modelling the impact of decidual senescence on embryo implantation in human endometrial assembloids, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Characterization of highly proliferative decidual precursor cells during the window of implantation in human endometrium, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Involvement of uterine natural killer cells in the natural selection of human embryos at implantation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Exometabolomic analysis of decidualizing human endometrial stromal and perivascular cells, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with a pro-senescent decidual response during the peri-implantation window, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Clearance of senescent decidual cells by uterine natural killer cells drives endometrial remodeling during the window of implantation, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.
- Impact of Sitagliptin on Endometrial Mesenchymal Stem-Like Progenitor Cells: A Randomised, Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Feasibility Trial.
- Miscarriage syndrome: Linking early pregnancy loss to obstetric and age-related disorders. eBioMedicine, 81, 104134-104134.
- Teaching activities
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I teach primarily on the MSc Reproductive and Developmental Medicine
- I am Module Lead for the Research Skills in Reproductive Medicine module (SMP454), and Deputy Module Lead on Fertilisation, Implantation and Embryo (SMP484), providing teaching and assessment on both modules.
- I also contribute to teaching activities on Gonads to Gametes (SMP488) and Law, Ethics and Policy in Reproductive Medicine (SMP453).
- During the Research Project module (SMP429) I supervise multiple students to undertake lab-based and computational projects. Past students have presented work arising from their project at the UK annual Fertility conference.
I supervise Postgraduate Research (PGR) students as both Primary and Secondary supervisor:
Current students
- Samuel Guttridge (PhD 2024-)
- Yasmin Al-Daqqaq (PhD 2026-) - Primary supervisor
- Alexa Mesjasz (PhD 2026-) - Secondary Supervisor
Completed students
- Amelia Parkin-Green (PhD 2023-2025) - Secondary supervisor
- Komal Makwana (PhD 2017-2021; University of Warwick) - Secondary supervisor
I am an Academic Tutor to MBChB, Postgraduate Taught (PGT) and PGR students.
I am a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (FHEA).
- Professional activities and memberships
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- Human Reproduction, Associate Editor (2026-present)
- Molecular Human Reproduction, Associate Editor (2022-2026)
- Treasurer and Company Secretary, Society for Reproduction and Fertility (SRF; 2025-2029)
- External Examiner for the University of Edinburgh Reproductive Biology Honours Programmes (2025-2029)
- External Examiner for Research Degrees
- University of Manchester, PhD (2025)
- University of Edinburgh, PhD (2024)
- Edge Hill University, MRes (2024)
- External reviewer for various international journals in Reproduction and Development themes.
- Conference abstract reviewer.
- ESHRE annual conference
- Fertility conference