BHF Grant Awarded to Professor David Bates for Pre-eclampsia Research

The Division of Cancer and Stem Cells is pleased to announce the award of over £200,000 from the British Heart Foundation to Professor David Bates, who leads the Cancer Biology Unit .

The project entitled “Pathophysiology of pre-eclampsia – role of vascular growth factors” will take place over 3 years and will involve the appointment of a new Post-Doctoral researcher within Professor Bates' team.

The research will address the pregnancy specific disorder pre-eclampsia which is one of the major causes of maternal and fetal death and handicap worldwide. Importantly, it has also been shown to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease of both mother and baby in later life.  The project focuses on the maternal syndrome of pre-eclampsia which is characterised by endothelial dysfunction, resulting in hypertension, proteinuria and, in worst cases, cerebral oedema and fits.