The Karvas lab studies the development of the placenta and how it communicates with other tissues of the fetus, namely the forming brain. The human placenta is physically and ethically challenging to study in humans. Animal models display distinct differences from human placental development that result in a lack of insight into diseases of the placenta that are uniquely human, such as preeclampsia. My lab models early placental development with stem cells. We utilize 3D culture techniques such as organoids, blastoids, and bioengineering approaches to answer key questions related to the development of placental villi and to gain insights into the etiology of severe preeclampsia. Additionally, we aim to understand how the placenta influences early brain development and patterning and how the placenta translates maternal signals to impact brain development, elucidating mechanisms of long-term neurobehavioral outcomes.