Grant: Project Grant

Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-associated disease where women develop high blood pressure and protein in their urine. It is the leading cause of mother and fetus mortality and morbidity. In addition, children born to preeclamptic mothers have a higher risk of high blood pressure as adults and women who have had preeclampsia are more at risk of developing several cardiovascular diseases. However, we have yet to identify its specific cause as well as methods for early detection and prevention. Women who have high blood pressure are more at risk of developing preeclampsia. Because of the difficulties imposed by this human disease, animal models of preeclampsia have been developed although there are very few who develop the disease spontaneously. We have discovered a new mouse model which has the same symptoms as women who suffer from high blood pressure and go on to develop preeclampsia when they become pregnant. In addition, we have recently produced data that suggest new molecules that could be implicated in this disease. As such, we wish to further investigate these elements and determine if they may be used as therapeutic targets using our animal model which would have an important clinical impact as there is no effective treatment for this disease apart from early delivery.