The placenta is the interface between the mother and her baby, which means it is not only key to a successful pregnancy, it determines the future health of every one of us. In this film Professor Graham Burton discusses how the Trophoblast Centre was established to generate a fresh approach into placental research. The Centre focuses on common complications during pregnancy that have their roots in poor placental development -- such as miscarriage, pre-eclampsia, stillbirth and low birth weight - and maternal-fetal interactions during pregnancy.