Dunlevie Maternal Fetal Medicine Center

Dunlevie Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center

Empowering an arc of research and discovery in maternal-fetal health.

Dunlevie Maternal-Fetal Medicine Center for Discovery, Innovation and Clinical Impact, established in 2021 through a philanthropic donation by Elizabeth and Bruce Dunlevie, reimagines high-risk obstetrics by launching a bold and comprehensive research program to transform the health of pregnant patients and their babies. The Center enhances the existing world-class maternal-fetal medicine and obstetrics program at Stanford Medicine by focusing research and new faculty hires on emerging priorities in the field.

News & Updates

Dunlevie Maternal-Fetal Medicine

Dunlevie Center Monthly Research Meetings

Join us on September 10 with a presentation on “Identification of neuroprotective compounds for hypoxic brain injury using high-throughput screening platforms in cortical organoids” from Dr. Anca Pasca of Stanford Medicine.

Seed Funding

Meet the Spring 2025 Seed Funding Awardees

Two translational science projects by Drs. Matteo A. Molè and Julia F. Simard were selected for funding.

Featured Research

Implantation remains a major barrier to successful pregnancy and is a stage of development that has long been inaccessible. The Molè lab in collaboration with Cambridge and Valencia universities created a new 3D laboratory model that mimics the lining of the human womb, published in Cell. For the first time, researchers were able to watch human embryos attach and grow into this artificial tissue, revealing how the embryo and the mother’s cells "communicate" to each other to build a healthy placenta. This is important because implantation is a "blackbox" where many pregnancies fail. By uncovering these secrets, this research could lead to better IVF success rates and new ways to prevent serious pregnancy complications.

This research has been featured in multiple outlets:

The Guardian: "Scientists create replica human womb lining and implant early-stage embryos"
Science: "Replicas of the uterine lining reveal drugs that may boost pregnancy success"
MIT Technology Review: "Researchers are getting organoids pregnant with human embryos"
Deseret News: "Scientists at Stanford watch human life begin without a mother"
NPR: "Scientists learn more about how human embryos implant using artificial wombs"

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Stanford Medicine News Center

Matteo Molè, PhD, recognized by the Stanford Medicine News Center

Dr. Molè is the first Stanford recipient of a Discovery and Innovation Grant from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine for his $350,000.00 award for the project, “In Vitro Modeling Human Embryo Implantation: Mapping the Early Embryo-Maternal Interactions."

California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM)

Matteo Molè, PhD, awarded CIRM DISC 0 grant

Dr. Molè received $2.3 million in funding for his project, “Dissecting the cellular and molecular interactions established between human embryo and maternal endometrium at implantation."
The proposal received a top score of 90. The selection process was exceptionally competitive with an unprecedented 372 applicants for only 23 funded projects.

Maternal and Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI)

Virginia D. Winn recognized by MCHRI

Dr. Winn was awarded the "MCHRI Visionary Leadership Award" for her work in Reproductive Perinatal & Stem Cell Biology Research yesterday at the 8th Annual Maternal and Child Health Research Institute Symposium.

Center Research

Priorities are based on four research areas:

Basic Science Discovery
Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Therapy
Clinical Trials (Obstetrical, Medical, and Surgical)
Perinatal Epidemiology and Population Health

These research areas are supported by a dedicated Research Core that provides critical infrastructure in research administration, biostatistics, writing and communications, study coordination and laboratory expertise. The ultimate objective is to rapidly accelerate discovery in the science and practice of high-risk obstetrics for families locally, nationally, and globally, and to pursue research that crosses socioeconomic boundaries and advances health equity.

Learn more

About the Center

The momentous and transformative gift from Elizabeth and Bruce Dunlevie will allow us to advance Maternal-Fetal Medicine Science and Practice locally at Stanford, nationally and globally. This gift will positively and profoundly impact the health and wellbeing of expectant mothers, children and families everywhere and for generations to come.

Yasser El-Sayed, MD
Center Director