Preeclampsia Translational Research group
Short description
Preeclampsia is a potentially serious condition that can lead to high blood pressure and affect the kidneys, heart, and brain during pregnancy. Our research primarily focuses on how the disease impacts the brain, with the aim of improving and developing new treatments to protect maternal health during and after pregnancy.
Our research
Preeclampsia – affects both body and brain
Preeclampsia is a serious pregnancy-related disorder affecting approximately 3–8 percent of pregnancies worldwide. It is characterised by the new onset of high blood pressure during pregnancy, together with injury to one or more organs, such as the kidneys, heart, or central nervous system. In severe cases, the condition can progress to eclampsia, an acute and life-threatening complication that may cause seizures, loss of consciousness, or, in the worst cases, maternal death.
As the only definitive way to halt disease progression is to deliver the baby, healthcare providers are often faced with difficult decisions in which the health and safety of both mother and child must be weighed. This highlights the urgent need for research that deepens our understanding of the underlying mechanisms and consequences of the disease.
Long-term effects on maternal health
Research has shown that preeclampsia not only complicates pregnancy but can also lead to long-term health consequences. Women who have had preeclampsia are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, kidney damage, and neurological disorders later in life. Despite this, we still know relatively little about how preeclampsia affects the brain – both during the disease and over the longer term.
Our research – focus on the brain and nervous system
Our research group studies how preeclampsia affects the brain’s blood vessels, with a particular focus on the blood–brain barrier. We also investigate inflammation and other harmful processes in the central nervous system associated with the disease.
We take a translational approach, combining analyses of patient samples with studies in clinically relevant animal models. Using advanced molecular and cellular techniques, we aim to gain a deeper understanding of the disease and to identify new therapies that can protect the brain and reduce the risk of neurological complications after preeclampsia.
Group members
- Group leader: Joakim Ek, Associate Professor, Senior Lecturer
- Lina Bergman, Associate Professor, Senior Consultant Physician
- Owen Herrock, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Sanketa Raut, PhD, Postdoctoral Researcher
- Valentina Bucher, MSc, Doctoral Student
Collaboration and related
Organisational unit
The research group belongs to the Department of Physiology