New research positions the placenta at the center of human neurodevelopment and evolution

In a Genomic Press Interview published today in Brain Medicine, Dr. Alex Tsompanidis highlights an exciting new idea that positions the placenta at the center of human neurodevelopment and evolution, challenging conventional wisdom about the origins of autism and human cognition. The interview, part of Genomic Press’s Innovators & Ideas series, captures a pivotal moment in neuroscience as researchers worldwide recognize pregnancy biology as fundamental to understanding brain diversity across all human populations.

Revolutionary framework reshapes global understanding

Dr. Tsompanidis, honored as one of Spectrum magazine’s top 40 under 40 autism researchers and recipient of the International Society for Autism Research Best Dissertation Award, has emerged as a new influential voice in developmental neuroscience. His research transcends traditional boundaries between obstetrics and neurology, revealing how prenatal steroid hormones produced by the placenta may fundamentally influence brain architecture and contribute to human neurodiversity.

His recent hypothesis, published in Evolutionary Anthropology, proposes that placental hormone production played a crucial role in the evolution of human cognitive capabilities, an idea that could fundamentally reframe how scientists understand the origins of human intelligence.

The significance of this work extends beyond academic circles. By highlighting the placenta as an active orchestrator of neurodevelopment rather than a passive barrier, Dr. Tsompanidis and his international collaborators have opened unprecedented avenues for understanding neurodiversity that could benefit millions of families worldwide.

“The placenta holds translational potential, as it is readily available at birth,” Dr. Tsompanidis explains in the interview. His vision encompasses screening protocols that could be implemented at birth and accelerate diagnosis and the offering of support for children with developmental differences.

From Athens laboratory to international research consortia

The interview traces Dr. Tsompanidis’s scientific journey from childhood microscopy experiments in Athens to leading research initiatives spanning three continents. His path illustrates how modern science transcends geographical boundaries, with formative experiences in Greece, the United States, Germany, and Taiwan shaping his multidisciplinary approach.

A defining moment came during his medical training in Athens when he encountered a seven-year-old autistic child who could not speak yet displayed remarkable curiosity about the world around him. The mother’s distress at receiving limited information about autism’s causes or her child’s future prospects crystallized Dr. Tsompanidis’s commitment to advancing scientific understanding. “I thought then that we ought to do better,” he reflects, describing how this encounter redirected his career toward unraveling autism’s biological foundations.

Placenta-brain axis emerges as scientific frontier

His current research supported by the Simons Foundation explores mechanisms through which the placenta and hormones such as testosterone and estrogens shape developing neural circuits. As part of a team led by Professor Sir Simon Baron-Cohen (Cambridge), Dr. Tsompanidis and his international research collaborators have teamed up to study biological factors across multiple levels of biology, from genetic variants to molecular pathways, and from brain structure to behavioral outcomes. This comprehensive approach reveals how pregnancy complications and neurodevelopmental conditions share common biological threads, particularly regarding prenatal sex differences, which may be particularly relevant in understanding the origins of autism; a condition that affects, on average, more males than females.

The evolutionary dimension of his work adds a new perspective, showing that adaptations in placental function may have enabled the development of humanity’s uniquely large and interconnected brains in the first place. This intriguing hypothesis links placental hormones to the emergence of complex cognition, language, and social behaviors that define our species. The implications extend to understanding why certain neurodevelopmental patterns persist across human populations despite varying environmental and cultural contexts.

His research philosophy emphasizes hypothesis-driven investigation combined with multidisciplinary perspectives. By connecting insights from obstetrics, evolutionary biology, and neuroscience, Dr. Tsompanidis exemplifies how crossing traditional academic boundaries generates transformative understanding. This approach has proven particularly valuable in recognizing patterns that single-discipline studies might overlook.

Advancing inclusive science and global collaboration

Beyond his research contributions, Dr. Tsompanidis advocates for greater inclusion in scientific endeavors, particularly highlighting barriers faced by international students and the urgent need for expanded research into women’s health conditions. He emphasizes how conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome remain poorly understood despite affecting millions worldwide, calling for concerted efforts to empower researchers of all genders and backgrounds to investigate these critical health challenges.

His commitment to mentoring reflects personal experience navigating international research environments. “Science is always collaborative,” he notes, crediting mentors who supported his journey while encouraging current students to pursue opportunities boldly. This perspective shapes the culture at the Autism Research Centre of the University of Cambridge, where he supervises students from various nations pursuing questions at the intersection of neurodevelopment and human evolution.

The interview reveals Dr. Tsompanidis’s broader vision for autism research that transcends medical models dividing health from pathology. He advocates for understanding autism as part of human neurodiversity’s natural spectrum, requiring collaboration with autistic communities to integrate lived experiences with clinical and basic research findings. This inclusive approach ensures research priorities align with community needs while advancing scientific understanding.

Dr. Alex Tsompanidis’s Genomic Press interview is part of a larger series called Innovators & Ideas that highlights the people behind today’s most influential scientific breakthroughs. Each interview in the series offers a blend of cutting-edge research and personal reflections, providing readers with a comprehensive view of the scientists shaping the future. By combining a focus on professional achievements with personal insights, this interview style invites a richer narrative that both engages and educates readers. This format provides an ideal starting point for profiles that explore the scientist’s impact on the field, while also touching on broader human themes.