Investigation into some genetic aspects of preeclampsia: Role of Laeverin in placenta and genome copy number variations in maternal and umbilical cord blood
Our previous studies indicated that the gene Laeverin is up-regulated in the preeclamptic placenta both at transcriptional and protein level compared to placental gene expression profile of healthy placenta. In this PhD project we plan to:
1. Elucidate the role of laeverin in human placentation. Our aim is to:
Sequence the laeverin gene
Study the expression pattern of laeverin in trophoblasts at the cellular level.
Investigate the role of laeverin in trophoblast cell migration and invasion.
2. Perform whole genome molecular karyotyping of preclamptic women and their neonates. Our aim is to:
Analyze genomic regions of losses and gains in blood obtained from severely preeclamptic women and compare with healthy pregnant women.
Analyze the genomic regions of losses and gains in umbilical cord blood of the neonates of severely preeclamptic women and compare with healthy controls.
PhD Candidate: Mona Nystad, MSc;
Principal Supervisor: Ganesh Acharya, MD, PhD, FRCOG
Co-supervisor: Vasilis Sitras, MD, PhD