College of Medicine researchers awarded more than $6 million to study heart function in women with preeclampsia
Penn State College of Medicine has been awarded $6.1 million to advance the study of heart function in women who have experienced severe preeclampsia. This grant from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute will support research led by Elisa Bradley, MD, cardiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine and Cell and Biological Systems at the College of Medicine.
“We know that women with preeclampsia have a higher risk for the development of cardiovascular disease and heart failure as they age,” said Bradley.
The funding will enable Bradley and her team to examine the impact of severe preeclampsia on heart function during and after pregnancy. Building upon previous findings that revealed evidence of continued heart dysfunction after pregnancy in women with severe preeclampsia, this new research aims to uncover the genetic foundation of this condition in diverse racial groups, and its implications for long-term cardiovascular health of affected women.
Specifically, the study will investigate the genetic profiles of different racial subgroups to gain insights into how genetics may impact heart function after severe preeclampsia. By examining distinct racial subgroups, including non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, South and Southeast Asian, and Hispanic women, the research team aspires to shed light on why women of some racial backgrounds may be at higher risk for heart dysfunction with pre-eclampsia.
This comprehensive and innovative research will involve in-depth genetic analysis and heart function assessments and may pave the way for personalized approaches to post-preeclampsia cardiovascular care. Through understanding the genetic and physiological mechanisms of heart dysfunction in women who have had severe preeclampsia, the study aims to inform targeted interventions and preventive strategies to mitigate the heightened risk of cardiovascular disease and heart failure in women with this condition.
“This project holds the potential to revolutionize our understanding of cardiovascular health in women who have experienced severe preeclampsia,” said Bradley. “Our goal is to enable the development of tailored medical interventions that could improve long-term outcomes for these individuals.”
The research is supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, a division of the NIH, grant number 1R01HL173039. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.
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