From Pathogenesis To Therapeutics: Targeting Two Signalling Pathways As A Therapeutic Strategy To Treat Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$499,048.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a serious complication of pregnancy that claims the lives of thousands of mothers and babies each year. There is no efficacious medical treatment besides delivery of the baby and placenta. Our lack of therapeutics is largely a result of our poor understanding of the disease. In this application we plan to thoroughly characterise two pathways we believe responsible for preeclampsia, effectively identifying many points at which new therapies could be targeted.
Bench To Beside Translational Studies To Develop Treatments For Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$265,138.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a common, devastating complication of pregnancy responsible for the loss of countless mothers and babies. There is no medical treatment. Excitingly we have identified 2 medications, safe in pregnancy: metformin and sulfasalazine that may treat this disease. We plan to introduce these medications into the clinic to see whether they may be an effective treatment for preeclampsia. If successful, these medications have the potential to improve the lives of women and babies globally.
Mechanisms Of Impaired Uterine Vascularisation In Early Pregnancy.
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,414.00
Summary
Vascular dysfunction and reduced blood flow to the placenta are underlying causes of pre-eclampsia and hypertension in pregnant women. Our proposal will identify if low circulating levels of the hormone relaxin are causes of abnormal development of the uterine vasculature in early pregnancy. This knowledge will enable us to develop new treatments to improve health outcomes in women at high risk of developing these diseases during their pregnancy.
Impaired Cardiovascular-immune Interactions In Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$343,243.00
Summary
Preeclampsia is a dangerous pregnancy complication that can be life-threatening for the mother and fetus. Currently there is no treatment. We are investigating the mother's immune system in essential maternal cardiovascular adaptations necessary for sustain a healthy pregnancy, and how it influences early events of embryo implantation and placental development. This research will improve our understanding of the maternal immune system in pregnancy, and may lead to new treatments options.
New Generation Antiplatelet Therapies To Prevent Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$483,148.00
Summary
Preeclampsia, a major complication of pregnancy, affects around 3-8% of pregnancies. Sadly, there is no way to prevent or delay disease. We have uncovered antiplatelet agents, used to prevent heart disease and stroke, may provide health benefits to women at risk of developing preeclampsia. We will test whether these agents can prevent the pathophysiology of preeclampsia in specialized human & mouse models developed in our laboratory. This work may provide a prevention strategy for preeclampsia.
Activin Mediated Endothelial Dysfunction: Novel Therapies For Preeclampsia
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$601,582.00
Summary
Preeclampsia remains a major cause of death of both pregnant women and their babies. The treatment for preeclampsia has not changed in decades. New insights into underlying causes of the disease have offered opportunities for the development of better, more effective treatments. This project aims to test such new therapies in an animal model of the disease with a view to future clinical trials.
Improving The Prediction And Detection Of Contributors To Term Stillbirth
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$570,358.00
Summary
Stillbirths are a global human tragedy, with 1 in 130 of all pregnancies in Australia ending in stillbirth. We propose to use ultrasound and blood markers to improve the detection of babies who are not growing well, a leading risk factor for stillbirth. Sleep position has also been associated with stillbirth, so we will study fetal heart rate responses during an overnight sleep study to see if breathing events overnight may be an important contributor to stillbirth in growth restricted fetuses.
Endometriosis affects up to 10% of reproductive aged women causing a range of debilitating symptoms including pelvic pain and infertility. Our team has discovered that small nerve fibres can be found in the endometrium of women with endometriosis that are not present in women without the condition. We will investigate how these nerve fibres grow and the mechanisms of pain generation. This will potentially allow the development of more targeted and effective treatment modalities.
The Role Of Vitamin D In Placental Development And Pregnancy Success
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$723,235.00
Summary
Vitamin D deficiency affects about 1 billion people worldwide, including up to 80% of Australians depending on age, skin colour and sun exposure. Vitamin D deficiency has now been associated with a large number of common diseases of aging and with pregnancy complications. This proposal will use human pregnancy serum and placenta, as well as mouse gene knockout models, to determine the hitherto unknown roles of vitamin D in development of the placenta and health of mother and baby.
Priming The Maternal Immune Response To Resist Inflammatory Disorders Of Pregnancy
Funder
National Health and Medical Research Council
Funding Amount
$920,972.00
Summary
Preeclampsia and preterm birth are common conditions affecting >15 million pregnancies annually. An underlying cause is the mother’s immune response, which can react adversely to the fetus causing an inflammatory reaction. This project seeks to find ways to strengthen the maternal immune system beginning before conception. The work will provide insights upon which to advise intending parents and will inform development of new treatments options to protect susceptible women.