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Michael Fant, MD PHD

Professor, College Of Medicine Obstetrics And Gynecology

Professor, College Of Medicine Pathology And Cell Biology

Professor, College Of Medicine Pediatrics

Education

  • Fellowship, Neonatology - New Born Medicine, Children's Hospital - Boston, 1985
  • Residency, Pediatrics, Children's Hospital - Boston, 1982
  • Internship, Pediatrics, Children's Hospital - Boston, 1981
  • Medical School, Vanderbilt University - Monroe Carell Children's Hospital, 1980
  • Graduate, Vanderbilt University - Monroe Carell Children's Hospital, 1980

Biography

Dr. Fant joined the USF-Morsani College of Medicine in 2009 as Professor of Pediatrics, Pathology and Cell Biology, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Fant has devoted his investigative career to studying the cellular mechanisms that regulate normal placental growth as a prerequisite to understanding abnormal fetal growth. His research has been funded by the NIH and the March of Dimes. In addition to his research activities he also serves as Director of the Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program at USF.

Locations

  • Primary Address , 1 Tampa General Circle , F-170 Tampa, FL 33606
  • USF Academic Address , 601 4th Street South , CRI 2nd Floor St. Petersburg, FL 33701
  • Mail Point , CRI 2008 ,
  • Physical Billing Address , 12901 Bruce B Downs BLVD Tampa, FL 33612

Clinical Interests

  • Fetal growth disorders
  • Congenital anomalies

Research Interests

  • Dr. Fant's research focuses on placental development as a model to understand the mechanisms underlying fetal growth and development using both human and mouse models. His laboratory was the first to demonstrate that insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are produced by the placenta and act locally to regulate placental development. It also demonstrated that placental mesenchymal cells are important components of the placenta’s intrinsic developmental program, exhibiting developmentally regulated proliferation rates and growth factor responsiveness. Currently the laboratory is examining the role of Plac1 (Placenta-specific1), a novel X-linked gene, in supporting normal fetal development. Using a mutant mouse model, an essential role for Plac1 in normal placental and embryonic development was demonstrated. Knockout mice exhibit placentomegaly, intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR), and reduced viability. More recently, Plac1 expression was also demonstrated in the fetal brain and linked to the development of postnatal hydrocephalus, identifying Plac1 as a novel gene important in brain development.

Specialties

  • Pediatrics-Neonatology

Selected Publications

Jackman, SM.Kong, X.Fant, ME.
Plac1 (placenta-specific 1) is essential for normal placental and embryonic development.
Molecular reproduction and development. 79(8) : 564-72, 2012.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22729990

Kotto-Kome A, Silva C, Whiteman V, Kong X, Fant ME
Circulating Anti-PLAC1 Antibodies during Pregnancy and in Women with Reproductive Failure: A Preliminary Analysis
ISRN Immunology. doi:10.5402/2011/530491, 2011.

Fant, M.Farina, A.Nagaraja, R.Schlessinger, D.
PLAC1 (Placenta-specific 1): a novel, X-linked gene with roles in reproductive and cancer biology.
Prenatal diagnosis. 30(6) : 497-502, 2010.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20509147

Fant, M.Barerra-Saldana, H.Dubinsky, W.Poindexter, B.Bick, R.
The PLAC1 protein localizes to membranous compartments in the apical region of the syncytiotrophoblast.
Molecular reproduction and development. 74(7) : 922-9, 2007.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17186554

Bhuiyan, MB.Murad, F.Fant, ME.
The placental cholinergic system: localization to the cytotrophoblast and modulation of nitric oxide.
Cell communication and signaling : CCS. 4: 4, 2006.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16686954

Fant, M.Weisoly, DL.Cocchia, M.Huber, R.Khan, S.Lunt, T.Schlessinger, D.
PLAC1, a trophoblast-specific gene, is expressed throughout pregnancy in the human placenta and modulated by keratinocyte growth factor.
Molecular reproduction and development. 63(4) : 430-6, 2002.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12412044

Fang, J.Furesz, TC.Smith, CH.Fant, ME.
IGF binding protein-1 (IGFBP-1) is preferentially associated with the fetal-facing basal surface of the syncytiotrophoblast in the human placenta.
Growth hormone AND IGF research : official journal of the Growth Hormone Research Society and the International IGF Research Society. 9(6) : 438-44, 1999.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10629164

Fang, J.Furesz, TC.Lurent, RS.Smith, CH.Fant, ME.
Spatial polarization of insulin-like growth factor receptors on the human syncytiotrophoblast.
Pediatric research. 41(2) : 258-65, 1997.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9029648

Fant, M.Salafia, C.Baxter, RC.Schwander, J.Vogel, C.Pezzullo, J.Moya, F.
Circulating levels of IGFs and IGF binding proteins in human cord serum: relationships to intrauterine growth.
Regulatory peptides. 48(1-2) : 29-39, 1993.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7505470

Fant, ME.
In vitro growth rate of placental fibroblasts is developmentally regulated.
The Journal of clinical investigation. 88(5) : 1697-702, 1991.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1939655