Kestler earns national award for research on uterine contractions

Graduate student Bri Kestler examines human uterine smooth muscle cells in the physiology and cell biology lab.

One in 10 babies is born prematurely in the United States. Bri Kestler hopes her research will help improve that statistic. 

Kestler, a sixth-year student in the Basic Medical Sciences Graduate Program at the USA College of Medicine, said that much about the control and synchronization of uterine contractions, both in pregnant and non-pregnant tissues, is still unknown. In her research, Kestler is examining the relationship between small-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels and internal calcium-release channels in human uterine smooth muscle cells. 

“Through my work I am trying to determine if a functional relationship between these channels can be targeted and pharmacologically exploited to regulate uterine contractions,” she said. “Every pathway or association identified in the control of uterine contractions is a new target for potential medications that could help calm uterine contractions in preterm labor, or ramp them up when labor is ineffective or the uterus becomes dystocic.”

Bri Kestler received a research recognition award

from the American Physiological Society.

Kestler created a digital poster with accompanying audio and presented her research at the Experimental Biology 2021 Conference, held virtually April 27-30. She was overjoyed to receive the Research Recognition Award from the Cellular and Molecular Physiology Section of the American Physiological Society. 

“It's an honor to just be considered for this award, but even more so, to be chosen from amongst the most accomplished graduate students and postdoctoral fellows,” she said.

Working with human tissue meant Kestler’s study sample sizes were smaller than students working with animal models or cell cultures. “I was very pleased the judges appraised the potential magnitude that work with human tissue can have, and that tissue acquisition is generally more difficult,” she said. 

As part of her graduate studies, Kestler performs research in the lab of Mark S. Taylor, Ph.D., professor of physiology and cell biology at the USA College of Medicine. 

“Bri's work highlights our expanding translational research initiatives at USA College of Medicine,” Taylor said. “These valuable studies are possible through the collaborative efforts and commitment of basic science and clinical partners.” 

Kestler said, “My long-term hope for this field is that more medications for the treatment of preterm labor can be developed and the rate of babies born prematurely in the United States can be reduced from the staggering 10 percent it is today.”