Pregnancy complications

This research was completed on 7 May 2005

Project Leader	Dr F Lyall, BSc, PhD, Professor S C Robson, MBBS, MRCOG, MD and Dr J N Bulmer, MB ChB, PhD, MRCPath.
Location	Institute of Medical Genetics, Glasgow in conjunction with the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and the Department of Pathology, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne.
Grant awarded	22 October 1999
Start date	15 November 2000
End date	7 May 2005
Grant amount	£111,819.00
Grant code	SP3520

These researchers are studying three problems of pregnancy (pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction and early pregnancy failure) which may have similar causes. The conditions can have serious consequences for the well-being of the baby and also for the mother. Babies who survive are at increased risk of disorders such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes in adult life. In normal pregnancies, cells known as trophoblasts invade and modify the blood vessels in the mother's womb, ensuring an increased supply of oxygen and nutrients to the baby. This team is investigating why, in abnormal pregnancies, this process fails. They will be studying substances normally released by the trophoblast cells to see if they are failing to function properly in abnormal pregnancies.