Skip to Main Content
Reproductive and Placental Research Unit
YSM Home

INFORMATION FOR

About Us

Harvey Kliman, MD, PhD

Director of the Reproductive and Placental Research Unit

Main Staff

  • Harvey Kliman, MD, PhD

    Director

    Research Scientist in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences; Director, Reproductive and Placental Research Unit

    Research Interests
    • Autistic Disorder
    • Endometrium
    • Female Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy Complications
    • Infertility
    • Placenta
    • Pregnancy
    • Serotonin
    • Reproductive Medicine
    • Stillbirth
    Harvey J. Kliman has, in addition to an M.D., a Ph.D. in cellular biochemistry from the University of Chicago. He is currently a Research Scientist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University School of Medicine and the Director of the Reproductive and Placental Research Unit with a special interest in infertility and pregnancy complications. He has over thirty years of anatomic pathology training with particular emphasis in electron microscopy, immunohistochemistry, endometrial and placental pathology. He has over ten patents, including the patent for the Endometrial Function Test® (EFT®)—“The soil test for the endometrium®” and “Method and system for determining placental volume.” His contributions in the field of placental research include the development of the “Kliman” method of trophoblast purification, research into the mechanisms of trophoblast differentiation and invasion, the role and genesis of syncytial knots, the discovery of placental fetal fibronectin, and more recently, the clinical utility of abnormalities in placental villous growth patterns, especially trophoblast invaginations and inclusions, to diagnose genetic abnormalities in pregnancy, including autism.
    View Full Profile

Sponsors

Women's Health Research at Yale

Women’s Health Research at Yale funds promising new approaches to understanding sex and gender differences. They bring together Yale faculty from different fields to answer real-world health questions and train the next generation of researchers and clinicians committed to advancing women’s health. They share their findings with the public and policymakers, so that everybody can make more informed health decisions. To learn more about Women's Health Research at Yale, their mission, funding opportunities, community partners and affiliates, please visit their website or click their logo.

Lincoln W. Kliman Memorial Fund

The Lincoln W. Kliman Memorial Fund supports research into the causes and potential cures of sarcomas and other cancers.

The Merwin Kliman Memorial Fund

The Merwin Kliman Memorial Fund supports research to prevent stillbirth.

Merwin Kliman, the electrical engineer who created the circuit boards for the Voyager computer system, died on September 15, 2019 in Manhasset, NY. He was 86.

The most notable achievement of Mr. Kliman, a Master of Electrical Engineering, was pioneering the use of computers to design computers of very small size. The ability to create computers with very compressed dimensions attracted the attention of a number of cutting-edge companies, including NASA and JPL (Jet Propulsion Laboratories). When Pioneer 11 flew by Jupiter it recorded radiation levels far higher than had been anticipated. This had a direct impact on the Voyager missions because JPL realized that the current Voyager computer design would have been destroyed when it flew by Jupiter. The mission was in jeopardy because JPL needed to significantly increase the shielding around the computer, drastically reducing its size. Kliman proposed a novel solution: put components on both sides of the mother board. “Can that be done?” the engineers at JPL asked. Kliman said, “yes,” and his idea saved the Voyager missions.

Merwin Kliman started working on the computer system for the Voyager project in 1973, culminating in the launch of Voyager 1 on September 5, 1977. His signature is on each of the computer boards in the Voyagers, two computers that will likely outlive our solar system.

Although his work with NASA and JPL ended in 1995, Kliman’s passion for math led him to a second career as a math teacher, first at Nassau Community College and then Hofstra University. While he remained passionate about the planets and outer space for the remainder of his life, his attentions were redirected to inner space. After being peppered with math problems by his father his whole life, his oldest son Harvey—a physician scientist at the Yale School of Medicine—asked Kliman to solve a math problem for him concerning placental volume: generate an equation to calculate the volume of a placenta from a 2-dimensional ultrasound cross section. This equation forms the basis of the Estimated Placental Volume (EPV) method—which father and son coauthored—to detect very small placentas, the number one cause of stillbirth.

National Institutes of Health

A part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, NIH is the largest biomedical research agency in the world. Thanks in large part to NIH-funded medical research, Americans today are living longer and healthier. Life expectancy in the United States has jumped from 47 years in 1900 to 78 years as reported in 2009, and disability in people over age 65 has dropped dramatically in the past 3 decades. In recent years, nationwide rates of new diagnoses and deaths from all cancers combined have fallen significantly.

Collaborators, Students, & Staff

Collaborators

  • Morgan Firestein
  • France Galerneau, MD, FRCS(C)

    Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences; Director of Across the Lifespan Mastercourse, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Interim Vice Chair Medical Education, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Medical Education Coordinator, Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit; Director of Residency Ultrasound Curriculum , Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Director of Sub internship , Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit; Director of Obstetrics and Gynecology Course, Physician Associate Program; Director, Yale INTEC Practice Based Elective, International Medical Student Education

    View Full Profile
  • Akiko Iwasaki, PhD

    Sterling Professor of Immunobiology and Professor of Dermatology and of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology and of Epidemiology (Microbial Diseases); Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, (HHMI)

    View Full Profile
  • Carolyn M. Mazure, PhD

    Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry; Founding Director, Women's Health Research at Yale, Yale School of Medicine ; Norma Weinberg Spungen and Joan Lebson Bildner Professor Emeritus in Women’s Health Research, Yale School of Medicine

    View Full Profile
  • Randall L. Owen, MS, MSc, PA-C

    Associate

  • W. Mark Saltzman, PhD

    Goizueta Foundation Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Professor of Cellular and Molecular Physiology and of Chemical Engineering; Affiliated Faculty, Yale Institute for Global Health; Department Chair, Biomedical Engineering

    View Full Profile
  • Lawrence Staib, PhD

    Professor of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, of Biomedical Engineering and of Electrical Engineering; Director of Undergraduate Studies, Biomedical Engineering

    View Full Profile
  • Hugh Taylor, MD

    Anita O'Keeffe Young Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences and Professor of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology; Chair, Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences; Chief , Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale New Haven Hospital

    View Full Profile

Students

Previous Staff

  • Julie McSweet, Research Supervisor
  • AnnMarie Franco, Research Assistant
  • Neha Desai, Research Assistant
  • Alicia Nicoletti, Patient Relations

Previous Students

Graduate and Post-Bac Students

  • L-C Kao, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, “Trophoblast Interactions with Extracellular Matrix Proteins”
  • S Caltabiano, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, “Role of GnRH in Trophoblast hCG Synthesis and Secretion”
  • E Meaddough, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale University, “Sexual activity, orgasm and tampon use are associated with a decreased risk for endometriosis”
  • C Lynch, Nurse-Midwifery Program, School of Nursing, Yale University, “Causes of IUFD”
  • S Ye, Department of Statistics, Yale University, “Modeling of Estimated Placental Volume Growth Curves” and “Frequencies of trophoblast inclusions in normal and at-risk populations.”
  • K Anderson, Nurse-Midwifery Program, School of Nursing, Yale University, “Trophoblast Inclusions as a Predictor of Autism Risk.”
  • K Anderson, Nurse-Midwifery Program, School of Nursing, Yale University, “Estimated Placental Volume Normative Curves in Rwanda.”
  • B Fleming-Jones, Nurse-Midwifery Program, School of Nursing, Yale University, “Trophoblast Inclusions and Autism”
  • N Morris, Masters 1 Research Internship, Paris Descartes University, “Serotonin interactions with trophoblast nuclei.”
  • M Firestein, PhD Candidate, Columbia University, “Efficacy of trophoblast inclusions to predict developmental disabilities.”
  • Saier (Vivien) Ye, Department of Statistics, Yale University, "Estimated Placental Volume" and "Trophoblast inclusions and autism risk."
  • N Morris, Masters 2 Research Internship, Paris Descartes University, “Serotonin interactions with trophoblast nuclei.”
  • K Hofmann, Yale College Post-grad, “Trophoblast inclusions and early markers of ASD.”
  • B Thompson, Yale College Post-grad, “Novel classification system for pregnancy loss.”

Medical Fellows

  • MA Feinman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, “Role of cAMP in Trophoblast Differentiation”
  • L Schwartz, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “Mouse Ascites Golgi (MAG) Mucin Expression And Regulation By Progesterone In The Rat”
  • D Fishman, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “ECM Attachment Assay for Ovarian Cancer Cells Lines”
  • M Cunningham, Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, “Interleukin-8 Secretion by Trophoblasts in Response to Endotoxin”
  • M Nachtigall, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “Role of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor in Trophoblast Differentiation and Implantation”
  • T Asis, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “EPO and CRH Expression in Normal and Stressed Placentas”
  • A Rebarber, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “Identification of fetal squamous cells in the maternal circulation”
  • D Duffy, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “Frequency of placental pathology in a community hospital population.”
  • X Ying, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “Frequency of placental pathology in a community hospital population.”
  • K Yusuf, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, “Maternal immunologic rejection of the placenta”
  • H Azpurua, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Yale University “Validation of mathematical models of intrauterine placental volume estimates”
  • K Campbell, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Yale School of Medicine, “Normative placental growth curves using Estimated Placental Volume (EPV)”

Post-Doctoral Fellows

  • R Feinberg, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, “Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor Expression in Invading Trophoblasts”
  • X Li, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Korea, “Degradation Pathways of hCG in the Chorionic Villous”
  • K-S Lee, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pusan National University, Korea, “Degradation Pathways of hCG in the Chorionic Villous Core”

Senior Medical Thesis Advisor

  • E Buchanan, Medical Student Research Fellow of the American Heart Association, Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, “Urokinase Receptor: A Modulator for Trophoblast Invasion?”
  • L Elmore, Yale University School of Medicine, “Induction of MAG Mucin Estrogen Responsiveness in HT-3 Cells”
  • R Dubowy, Yale University School of Medicine, “Cyclins as a Marker of Endometrial Differentiation”
  • E Nannenberg, Visiting Medical Scholar, State University Groningen, Faculty of Medical Sciences, “Expression of MAG mucin in normal and infertile patient populations.”
  • E Arleo, Yale University School of Medicine, “Psycho-social implications of complicated obstetrical cases”
  • E Harel, Yale University School of Medicine, “5HT expression in human trophoblasts.”
  • K M Murdaugh, Yale University School of Medicine, "Association of Estimated Placental Volume with Birthweight."
  • M Kane, Yale University School of Medicine, “Normal placental growth curves and EPV efficacy using 2-D ultrasound in a maternity center in Dakar, Senegal”
  • B Nhundu, Yale University School of Medicine, “Normal placental growth curves and EPV efficacy using 2-D ultrasound in a maternity center in University of Zimbabwe College of Health Sciences and Parirenyatwa Hospitals”

Undergraduate Senior Thesis Advisor

  • K Berman, Yale College, Yale University, “Intelligence and Trophoblast Inclusions.”
  • A Guru, Yale College, Yale University, “Genomic Predictors of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss”
  • J Surprenant, Yale College, Yale University, “Estimated Placental Volume use in a rural setting.”
  • T Barton, Yale College, Yale University, “Assessment of placental pathology reporting.”
  • B Schultz, Yale College, Yale University, “Genomic Predictors of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss”
  • A Zerbib, Yale College, Yale University, “Trophoblast inclusions and developmental outcomes.”
  • Olivia Tona, University of New Haven, clinical research assistant.S Wu, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Pennsylvania, “Effect of ECM on Trophoblast Endocrine Function”
  • K Ahn, Yale College, Yale University, “Identification of endometrial tissue in menstrual and peritoneal fluid: precursor for endometriosis?”
  • J Arruda, Yale College, Yale University, “MAG mucin as a predictor of endometrial receptivity”
  • M Sleater, Yale College, Yale University, “Villous edema expression in the placenta as a consequence of intrauterine inflammation”
  • I Maytal, Yale College, Yale University, “Degradation pathways of hCG in the human placenta”
  • L French, Yale College, Yale University, “Association of trophoblast inclusions with genetic defects”
  • J Catalanotti, Yale College, Yale University, “Does MAG mucin expression in a natural cycle predict subsequent IVF outcome?”
  • T La, Yale College, Yale University, “Correlation of syncytial knots with umbilical artery Doppler velocimetry”
  • Y Levin, Yeshiva University, New York, “Timing and cytokine regulation of villous edema”
  • C Drewes, Yale College, Yale University, “Time course of meconium interaction with the fetal membrane”
  • K Gluck, Yale College, Yale University, “Endometrial function test (EFT) patterns in infertile women”
  • A Labowsky, Yale College, Yale University, “Time course of meconium interaction with the fetal membrane”
  • A Lorch, Yale College, Yale University, “Endometrial function test (EFT) patterns in infertile women”
  • I Magidina, Yale College, Yale University, “TNFalpha expression in normal and inflamed placentas”
  • A Jacobs, Yale University Physician’s Assistants Program, “Placental Morphology in Developmental Disorders”
  • N Tamhankar, Yale College, Yale University, “Expression of 5HT and its receptors in normal and genetically abnormal placentas.”
  • S Lynch, Yale College, Yale University, “PP13: localization, function and utility in predicting gestational hypertension.”
  • A Socik, Yale College, Yale University, “Frequency of trophoblast inclusions in normal and ASD populations.”
  • Y Lee, Yale College, Yale University, “Estimated Placental Volume (EPV) normal curve development.”
  • P Subramanyam, Yale College, Yale University, “Estimated Placental Volume (EPV) normal curve development.”
  • C Seaver, Yale College, Yale University, “The Duality of Psychological Distress in the Evolving Interplay of Psychology and Infertility."
  • N Garza, Yale College, Yale University, “Frequencies of Trophoblast Inclusions in Karyotypically Validated Pregnancy Loss Placentas.”
  • S Quaratella (Barry), Yale College, Yale University, “Serotonin expression and function in ASD versus normal placentas.”
  • T Stanic, Yale College, Yale University, “The Role of Serotonin in Colon Cancer Growth.”
  • Z Subha, Yale College, Yale University, “Nuclear Binding Partner of Serotonin in Human Trophoblasts.”
  • K Hofmann, Yale College, Yale University, “Trophoblast inclusion expression in a well characterized pediatric cohort.”
  • K Hofmann, Yale College, Yale University, “Role of serotonin in Nematostella growth.”
  • K Ponce, Yale College, Yale University, “Relationship between newborn head circumference and trophoblast inclusion frequency.”
  • D Collins, Yale College, Yale University, “Effect of TPH1 inhibition on tumor growth.”
  • R Agashe, Yale College, Yale University, “The Use of Serotonin Inhibitors as an Anticancer Agent”
  • D Bacheschi, Yale College, Yale University, “Thermal detection device.”
  • J Binu, Yale College, Yale University, “Thermal detection device.”
  • E Boyer, Harvard University, “Trophoblast inclusions and developmental outcomes.”

Summer Student Advisor

  • J Wetmore, Yale College, Yale University, “Endometrial MAG mucin expression in normal and infertile patients”
  • L Gordon, Yale College, Yale University, “Endometrial receptivity and MAG mucin expression”
  • I Maytal, Yale College, Yale University, “Degradation pathways of hCG in the human placenta”
  • G Brainard, Yale College, Yale University, “Cyclin E and p27 expression in the endometrium of patients with unexplained infertility”
  • C Millerick, Yale College, Yale University, “Validation of the Endometrial Function Test (EFT)”
  • A Orina, Yale College, Yale University, “Effect of stress on markers of endometrial development”
  • A Lorch , Yale College, Yale University, “Endometrial function test (EFT) patterns in infertile women”
  • C Lynch, Duke University, “Trophoblast inclusions as a marker of genetic and/or developmental abnormalities”
  • C Castaneda, Yale College, Yale University, “Frequency of Chlamydial infections in unexplained infertility cases”
  • R Baker, High School Scholar, “Epidemiology of IUGR”
  • Y Chen, Yale College, Yale University “Validation of mathematical models of intrauterine placental volume estimates”
  • C Lynch, Yale University School of Nursing, Midwife Program, “Causes of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss”
  • A Anders, University of Washington, St. Louis, BioSTEP Scholar, “Validation of Vscan for Estimated Placental Volume measurements”
  • N Sinha, Discovery to Cure High School Internship Program, Yale University School of Medicine, "Serotonin Expression in the Placenta"
  • C Kruglik, Discovery to Cure High School Internship Program, Yale University School of Medicine, "Frequency of Trophoblast Inclusions in Pregnancy Loss Tissues"
  • E Siegman, Fordham University, "Serotonin Expression in Cancers."
  • A Setaro, Boston University, "Serotonin transport in the human placenta."
  • K Quinlan, Yale College, Yale University, "Behavioral Outcomes Following PlacentASD Testing."
  • Z Subha, Yale College, Yale University, “Serotonin expression and function in cultured trophoblasts.”
  • S Waddell, University of Miami, “Regulation of 5HT transport in the human placenta.”
  • J Norahs, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska Academy of Medicine, Gothenburg, Sweden, “Serotonin uptake into placental nuclei.” A Falkowitz, University of Florida, “Role of serotonin Nematostella growth.”
  • R Agashe, Yale College, Yale University, “The Use of Serotonin Inhibitors as an Anticancer Agent”
  • A Guru, Yale College, Yale University, “Genomic Predictors of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss”
  • K Vandyck, St. Lawrence University, “Genomic Predictors of Recurrent Pregnancy Loss”