Grant: Doctoral: Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Iron deficiency (ID) is the most common nutritional deficiency worldwide, and pregnant women are most at risk. It is estimated that 23% of Canadian women, and as many as 50 to 80% of women in developing nations, experience ID during pregnancy. Iron is important for oxygen transport and energy production, and therefore its deficiency during pregnancy can affect the growing fetus. This project aims to determine how ID alters development of the kidney, making these fetuses prone to long-term health issues, including high blood pressure, kidney disease and heart disease. More specifically, using a model of ID during pregnancy, I aim to determine how the mitochondria-the cell's energy powerhouse-is affected within different organs in the offspring. This project will study how abnormal kidney function changes over the lifespan. A second aim of this study is to test new treatments to prevent the kidney damage caused by ID during pregnancy. Specifically, we will test the plant-derived compound resveratrol as a natural supplement during pregnancy to reduce the damage caused by ID to the developing fetus. The model of iron deficiency during pregnancy used by our research group is clinically relevant, and promises to help many people by identifying how diseases begin and how we can use new treatments to stop these events from taking place. Because ID affects so many pregnant women worldwide, our research has enormous potential to reduce the burden of illness like heart and kidney disease, and therefore help many people.