Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that occurs primarily in women and often causes complications during pregnancy, such as preterm birth and preeclampsia. These complications remain difficult to predict, because the biological processes causing the complications are unknown. One possibility is that the immune system in SLE patients reacts too fiercely towards the unborn child. To better understand this, this project is developing a 3D model of the placenta, which we can use to mimic the immune process during pregnancy. ‘This model will help explore the causes of pregnancy problems in SLE and may be useful for other women with similar complications,’ says Dankers.