Grant: Operating Grant
University of British Columbia
$788,200.00
Epigenetic alterations of the placenta that may be predictive of onset preeclampsia
FY 2011-12
Summary
Preeclampsia is a serious condition for both mother and fetus in which maternal hypertension arises in pregnancy in combination with significant amounts of protein in the urine. Although preeclampsia may have a variety of underlying causes, there are common changes that occur in the placenta prior to the onset of symptoms. We have found that epigenetic (chemical) changes to the DNA occur in placentas associated with early onset preeclampsia (onset prior to 34 weeks). We intend to measure these changes at 450,000 sites in the DNA simultaneously. We will then compare these to changes observed by growing placental cells at different oxygen concentrations and to changes in placentas that have genetic errors known to be susceptible to preeclampsia. Our goal is to determine which of these epigenetic changes occur early in the disease process. We then plan to use this information to develop tests using placental DNA that is found in the pregnant woman's blood that can help diagnosis of preeclampsia prior to the onset of symptoms.
Department
Program
Operating Grant
Recipient
Location
British Columbia, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
CIHR Funding Decisions Database
As published
Id
237323
Name
Robinson Wendy P
Region
British Columbia
Country
Canada
Orgtype
Institution Paid; Research Institution
Instname2
Human Development, Child and Youth Health
Theme2
Clinical
Prcname2
Clinical Investigation - A: Reproduction, Maternal, Child and Youth Health
Projecttitle
Epigenetic alterations of the placenta that may be predictive of onset preeclampsia
Programtype2
Operating Grants
Orgnameinp2
University of British Columbia
Cihramount2
$788,200
Cihrequipment2
$0
Programname2
Operating Grant
Keyworddelim
Dna Methylation; Epigenetics; Placenta; Preeclampsia; Trisomy
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a serious condition for both mother and fetus in which maternal hypertension arises in pregnancy in combination with significant amounts of protein in the urine. Although preeclampsia may have a variety of underlying causes, there are common changes that occur in the placenta prior to the onset of symptoms. We have found that epigenetic (chemical) changes to the DNA occur in placentas associated with early onset preeclampsia (onset prior to 34 weeks). We intend to measure these changes at 450,000 sites in the DNA simultaneously. We will then compare these to changes observed by growing placental cells at different oxygen concentrations and to changes in placentas that have genetic errors known to be susceptible to preeclampsia. Our goal is to determine which of these epigenetic changes occur early in the disease process. We then plan to use this information to develop tests using placental DNA that is found in the pregnant woman's blood that can help diagnosis of preeclampsia prior to the onset of symptoms.
Competitiondate
201109
Approvedterm2
5 yrs 0 mth
Pinamesdelim
Robinson, Wendy P
Approvedterm
5 ans 0 mois
Cihrcontribution2
~ $788,200~ $0~
