2025 Bailey Award to Fund Innovative Placental Research

Pictured above (right to left): Geetu Tuteja, professor of genetics, development, and cell biology; Haninder Kaur, research scientist II; and Ludvin Mejia, doctoral student in genetics and genomics.

Iowa State University’s 2025 Bailey Research Career Development award has been granted to Geetu Tuteja, professor of genetics, development and cell biology.

The Bailey Award, established through a generous estate gift from Carl A. and Grace A. Bailey, provides $50,000 per year for three years to support high-risk, high-reward research addressing emerging scientific challenges. Tuteja’s project, “Identifying new mechanisms that regulate early placental development,” focuses on the role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in regulating gene expression in trophoblasts. Trophoblasts are specialized cells that form the outer layer of the early embryo. They play a vital role in supplying the developing baby with nutrients and oxygen and in forming the placenta, the organ that sustains pregnancy.  

Understanding the Placenta: A Temporary Yet Vital Organ

“The placenta is truly unique among human organs—it exists only during pregnancy, yet it plays a critical role, functioning as the developing baby’s lungs, liver, and kidneys,” Tuteja said. “Despite its importance, the placenta remains one of the least understood organs, often discarded and forgotten after delivery.”

Tuteja’s research aims to shed light on how trophoblasts turn specific genes on and off.

“I look forward to working with lab members on optimizing innovative techniques to understand the mechanisms of action of lncRNAs in placental cells,” explained Tuteja. “The potential for unexpected discoveries, which could reshape our understanding of gene regulation in trophoblasts, is particularly motivating.” 

Tuteja’s lab has identified a novel lncRNA that is highly expressed in the placenta, with preliminary data suggesting it plays a significant role in trophoblast function. Tuteja intends to leverage a model system that allows trophoblasts to be grown in the lab, allowing her group to study early placental development. This system will enable her lab to establish protocols for investigating lncRNAs and uncover the molecular pathways through which they regulate gene expression in trophoblasts.

Breaking New Ground in Placental Research

Through her work, Tuteja continues to honor the Bailey Award’s mission of fostering innovative, high-risk research with practical applications. By tackling the mysteries of the placenta, her research has the potential to make a lasting impact on maternal and child health. Ultimately, it could pave the way for the use of lncRNAs as diagnostic biomarkers.

“This project is inherently high-risk because it explores uncharted territory: lncRNAs have not been studied in the placenta in the way we are proposing,” said Tuteja. “If the work is successful, there is long term potential for early-detection or the development of therapeutic targets for pregnancy disorders like preeclampsia or recurrent miscarriage, which affect countless families globally.”

Peter Dorhout, Iowa State Vice President for Research, commends Tuteja for the innovation her project embodies. “The approach of Dr. Tuteja’s research embodies the spirit of the Bailey award: supporting efforts that are innovative, increase our knowledge, and have practical applications. This project has the potential to transform our understanding of the placenta and create proactive and innovative solutions that ultimately deliver improved maternal and infant health.”