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Developing A Screening Test To Identify Women At Risk Of Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,119,284.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy for which there is currently no cure and no way to accurately predict women at risk. Using large collections of human blood samples, we will screen for novel proteins within pregnant women's blood. We will then use artificial intelligence to select the best biomarkers and combine them with clinical information to develop a multi-marker blood test to predict women at risk.
Decidual-trophoblast Interactions Critical For Optimal Pregnancy Outcomes
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$612,927.00
Summary
This proposal seeks to identify the critical maternal and embryonic placental factors that regulate the formation of a healthy placenta and thus a healthy pregnancy and baby. Currently there is no way of identifying whether the placenta is forming adequately. The proposed studies are a necessary first step in identifying therapeutic targets for diseases associated with a poorly formed placenta, such as preeclampsia.
Mechanistic And Translational Studies In Female Reproductive Health
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$631,370.00
Summary
The womb is essential for a health pregnancy. This research aims to determine how the womb interacts with embryos to ensure a healthy pregnancy forms. Cells in the womb can also grow abnormally and result in endometrial cancer. New treatments for endometrial cancer will also be tested in this research.
The Pathogenic Role Of A Placenta-specific Protease In Early-onset Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,950.00
Summary
Preeclampsia (PE) is a life-threatening disorder of pregnancy. If left untreated, PE will lead to maternal as well as fetal death. Unfortunately, the only current effective “cure” for PE is to deliver the baby prematurely. The causes of PE are intrinsically related to the placenta, the organ that connects the fetus to the mother. This project will investigate a unique enzyme that is produced only by the placenta, its contribution to PE and its potential as a target for PE treatment.
Developing Molecularly Targeted Therapeutics And Diagnostics For Pregnancy Complications
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$321,489.00
Summary
Pregnancy complications still causes the death of mothers, and their babies. During this fellowship, we will be developing new treatments and clinical tests for three important complications of pregnancy. We will run clinical trials of a new medication based treatment to cure ectopic pregnancies. We will also develop a blood test that can identify those babies still in the womb but suffering dangerously low oxygen levels. Lastly, we will develop drugs to treat preeclampsia, a serious condition o ....Pregnancy complications still causes the death of mothers, and their babies. During this fellowship, we will be developing new treatments and clinical tests for three important complications of pregnancy. We will run clinical trials of a new medication based treatment to cure ectopic pregnancies. We will also develop a blood test that can identify those babies still in the womb but suffering dangerously low oxygen levels. Lastly, we will develop drugs to treat preeclampsia, a serious condition of pregnancy.Read moreRead less
Blood Pressure Effects On Placental Growth And Development
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$133,357.00
Summary
Diseases causing high blood pressure in pregnancy or preeclampsia are a major cause of complications in mother and infant. At present, the only treatment is delivery of the baby who may be premature or too small. Why preeclampsia develops is incompletely understood and the long term consequences of this disease for the mother includes doubling of the future risk of heart and kidney disease. This research will look at the placenta or afterbirth at a molecular level to better understand why this d ....Diseases causing high blood pressure in pregnancy or preeclampsia are a major cause of complications in mother and infant. At present, the only treatment is delivery of the baby who may be premature or too small. Why preeclampsia develops is incompletely understood and the long term consequences of this disease for the mother includes doubling of the future risk of heart and kidney disease. This research will look at the placenta or afterbirth at a molecular level to better understand why this disease occurs.Read moreRead less
Intergenerational Transmission Of Gender-specific Metabolic Disease For Offspring Born Small: Maternal, Paternal And Embryonic Roles
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$689,050.00
Summary
This proposal addresses the underlying metabolic health consequences of poor embryo and growth of the baby across generations. We will define mechanisms by which a poor functioning placenta during a rat mother’s pregnancy programs her offspring born small to transmit gender-specific diseases to the next generation. We will identify mechanistic pathways involved, specifically the relative contributions of maternal and paternal germ lines and adverse maternal adaptations to pregnancy for females b ....This proposal addresses the underlying metabolic health consequences of poor embryo and growth of the baby across generations. We will define mechanisms by which a poor functioning placenta during a rat mother’s pregnancy programs her offspring born small to transmit gender-specific diseases to the next generation. We will identify mechanistic pathways involved, specifically the relative contributions of maternal and paternal germ lines and adverse maternal adaptations to pregnancy for females born small.Read moreRead less
Measuring Hypoxia Induced MRNA In Maternal Blood To Monitor Wellbeing Of Growth-restricted Fetuses
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$421,358.00
Summary
Severely growth restricted fetuses are at peril of stillbirth from low oxygenation. While ultrasound monitoring improves outcomes, babies are still lost. Better ways to monitor the health the unborn baby are needed. We have recently discovered fetuses’ starved of oxygen leak RNA into mother's blood. Thus, measuring RNA molecules in blood could be used to assess fetal health. We will examine whether measuring mRNA in maternal blood could be used to monitor wellbeing of growth-restricted fetuses.
Working Towards A New Therapy For The Prevention Of Restricted Fetal Growth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$711,356.00
Summary
If a baby does not grow properly during pregnancy there can be serious health problems when it is born. We also know that small babies have life long risks of poorer health. We have no effective therapies for improving a baby's growth. This application aims to discover a treatment that can help babies grow. This would be an important advance in improving the health of our future Australians.
Falling Insulin Requirements Study (FIRST) In Diabetic Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$107,764.00
Summary
Falling insulin requirements in late pregnancy is thought to signify abnormal placental function and increased risk to mother and baby in diabetic pregnancies. As there is currently limited evidence in the literature, the proposed study aims to examine placental dysfunction in this group of women through monitoring adverse outcomes, serial ultrasound measurements, blood biomarkers and histopathology examination. The results will help direct appropriate clinical care to improve outcomes and predi ....Falling insulin requirements in late pregnancy is thought to signify abnormal placental function and increased risk to mother and baby in diabetic pregnancies. As there is currently limited evidence in the literature, the proposed study aims to examine placental dysfunction in this group of women through monitoring adverse outcomes, serial ultrasound measurements, blood biomarkers and histopathology examination. The results will help direct appropriate clinical care to improve outcomes and predict those at highest risk.Read moreRead less