Sarah England, PhD

Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair of Research and Professor | Washington University School of Medicine
March of Dimes
Sarah England

Sarah K. England, PhD, Alan A. and Edith L. Wolff Professor of Medicine, Vice Chair of Research and Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Director, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 425 South Euclid Ave, Box 8064, St. Louis, MO 63110-1010
Website: https://reproductivesciences.wustl.edu/laboratories/england-lab/  

Assistant: Kirsten Biggs (Wilson) 
Phone: 314-286-1775 
Email: [email protected] 

Biography

Dr. Sarah England is focused on understanding events that alter the typical rhythms of the uterus. She's a Professor at Washington University School of Medicine and was a leader in the Prematurity Research Center at Washington University, in addition to a PI of grants funded by the March of Dimes Prematurity Initiative. In collaboration with many investigators, her lab has identified and characterized ion channels that underlie uterine activity. Currently, she's working with teams of investigators to understand how daily rhythms affect a pregnant person’s risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Dr. England works on basic science and translational research projects. She has worked in the policy realm and is interested in identifying solutions to improve maternal health through implementing policies based on rigorous scientific evidence. Her work has been funded by multiple agencies, including the NICHD, MOD, American Heart Association, the NSF.

Education

BA Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota (1988)

PhD Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Physiology, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1993)

PhDs Neuroscience, Montpellier University 2, France, Cum Laude (1997)

Postdoctoral, Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt School of Medicine (2010)

Honors and recognition

Society for Reproductive Investigation- President’s Achievement Award (2019)

Distinguished Faculty Award, Washington University in St. Louis (2020)

Society for Reproductive Investigation - DeCherney Society Lifetime Distinguished Service Award (2022)

Selected publications

  1. Pierce, S. L., J.D.K. Kresowik, K.G. Lamping, and S.K. England (2008) Overexpression of SK3 channels dampens uterine contractility to prevent preterm labor in mice. Biol. Reprod. 78 1058-1063. PMID: 18305226
  2. Day, L. J., K.L. Schaa, K. Ryckman, M. Cooper, J. M. Dagle, C. Fong, H. Simhan, D.C. Merrill, M.L. Marazita, J.C. Murray, and S.K. England (2011) Single nucleotide polymorphisms in the KCNN3 gene associate with preterm birth. Reprod. Sci., 18(3); 286-295. PMID: 21266667. PMCID: PMC3053422
  3. Rada, C., S.L. Pierce, D.W. Nuno, K. Zimmerman, K.G. Lamping, N.C. Bowdler, R.M. Weiss, S.K. England. (2012) Overexpression of the SK3 channel causes altered vascular remodeling during pregnancy leading to fetal demise. Am. J. Physiol., 303: E825-831. PMID: 22785240. PMCID: PMC3469615
  4. Rada, C.C., G. Murray, and S.K. England (2014) The SK3 Channel promotes placental vascularization by enhancing secretion of angiogenic factors. Am. J. Physiol., 307 (10) E935-43. PMID: 254249506
  5. Reinl, E.L., R. Cabeza, I. Gregory, A.G. Cahill, and S.K. England (2015) The sodium leak channel (NALCN) contributes to the leak current in human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Human Molecular Reproduction, 21 (10):816-24. PMID:26134120
  6. Reinl, E.L, P. Zhao, W. Wu, X. Ma, , C. Amazu, R. Bok, K. J. Hurt, Y. Wang, and S.K. England (2018) Na+-Leak Channel, Non-Selective Modulates Uterine Excitability and Labor Efficiency. Cell Physiol. and Biochem., 18;48 (2):503-515. PMID 30021195
  7. McCarthy, R., C. Martin-Fairey, D.K. Sojka, E.D. Herzog, E.S. Jungheim, M. J. Stout, J.C. Fay, M. Mahendroo, J.J. Reese, J.L. Herington, E.J. Plosa, E. Shelton, and S.K, England. Mouse models of preterm birth: suggested protocol and reporting guidelines. Biol. Reprod., Nov 1;99(5):922-937 PMID: 29733339
  8. Martin-Fairey, C.A., P. Zhao, L. Wan, T. Roenneberg, J. Fay, X. Ma, R. McCarthy, E.S. Jungheim, S.K. England, and E.D. Herzog (2019) Pregnancy induces an earlier chronotype in both mice and women. J. Biol. Rhythms, 2019 Jun;34(3):323-331.
  9. Amazu C., X. Ma, C. Henkes, J. Ferreira, C. Santi, and S.K. England (2020) Progesterone and estrogen regulate NALCN expression in human myometrial smooth muscle cells. Am. J. Physiol., 318(4); E441-E452.
  10. Zhao, P PhD; B.S. Bedrick. MD; K.E. Brown, R. McCarthy, J. E. Chubiz, Y.S. Ju N. Raghuraman, Justin C. Fay, E.D. Herzog; E. S. Jungheim, S.K. England (2022) Sleep changes with pregnancy: A prospective study. Sleep Medicine, 94: 54-62.

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