Faculty

Kristin D. Gerson, M.D., Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Department: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Graduate Group Affiliations

Contact information

Maternal Fetal Medicine
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
3400 Spruce Street, 2 Silverstein
Philadelphia, PA 19104

Education:
B.A.
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 2004.
Ph.D. (Cancer Biology)
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 2014.
MD
University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, 2014.

Permanent link

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Description of Research Expertise

Dr. Gerson is a Maternal Fetal Medicine physician scientist conducting fundamental and translational research in reproductive biology with a specific focus on microbiome-metabolome interactions governing cervical remodeling and preterm birth.

Selected Publications

Lauren Anton, PhD, Kristin Klohonatz, PhD, Briana Ferguson, Kristin D. Gerson, MD, PhD : Exposure of the Cervical Epithelium to Gardnerella vaginalis and Vaginal Polyamines Alters Macrophage Immune Responses: Evidence for Cellular Crosstalk at the Host-microbial Interface SRI 2025.

Emilie Stylli, Briana Ferguson, Rita Leite, Rachel Ledyard, Heather H. Burris, Lauren Anton, Kristin D. Gerson: The fetal membrane metabolome: arachidonic acid and sex steroid metabolism perturbations associated with preterm rupture SMFM 2025.

Emilie Stylli, Kristin Klohonatz, Briana Ferguson, Rita Leite, Rachel Ledyard, Heather H. Burris, Lauren Anton, Kristin D. Gerson : Perfluorochemicals paradoxically exert immunosuppressive effects in fetal membranes: implications for preterm premature rupture of membranes SMFM 2025.

Gregory W. Kirschen, MD, PhD; Briana Ferguson; Lauren Anton, PhD; Kristin D. Gerson, MD, PhD: Spermine and Spermidine Attenuate Glutathione Oxidation by Gardnerella vaginalis: Antioxidant Potential of Vaginal Polyamines SRI 2025.

Kristin Klohonatz, PhD; Briana Ferguson; Lauren Anton, PhD, Kristin D. Gerson, MD, PhD : Indolelactate Mitigates Anaerobe-induced Inflammation in the Cervical Epithelium: Potential Role for Lactobacillus crispatus-derived Lactate Derivatives in Immune Protection SRI 2025.

Lauren Anton, Briana Ferguson, Kristin Klohonatz, Abbie Lustig, Emilie Stylli, Aaron Loder, Kristin D. Gerson: Polyamines modify Gardnerella vaginalis-induced alterations in the mucosal transcriptome SMFM 2025.

Gregory Kirschen, Olha Kholod, Briana Ferguson, Britt Goods, Lauren Anton, Kristin D. Gerson : Common vaginal microbes modify energy metabolism and oxidative balance: potential implications on reproductive health SMFM 2025.

Briana Ferguson, Aaron Loder, Lauren Anton, Kristin D. Gerson: Lactobacillus crispatus mitigates Group B Streptococcus-induced inflammation in the cervicovaginal epithelium SMFM 2025.

McCoy JA, Burris HH, Gerson KD, McCarthy C, Ravel J, Elovitz MA: Cervicovaginal Microbial-Immune State and Group B Streptococcus Colonization in Pregnancy. Am J Perinatol Online ahead of print, May 2024.

Gerson KD, Loder A, Landau Z, Anton: Xenobiotic metabolites modify immune responses of the cervicovaginal epithelium: potential mechanisms underlying barrier disruption. BJOG 131(5):665-674, Apr 2024.