Chief Investigator:

Dr Amy Wyatt

Research Area:

Basic Science

Funding Amount:

$98,038

Recipient:

Flinders University

Overview:

There is evidence that the accumulation of damaged (i.e. misfolded) proteins in the body contributes to preeclampsia, a leading complication of pregnancy that causes preterm birth, fetal growth restriction and can have negative lifelong consequences for the health of children. We have recently discovered that pregnancy zone protein (PZP), a molecule that normally becomes very abundant in the blood of pregnant women, efficiently stabilises misfolded proteins. This project will increase our current understanding of the functions of PZP and has the potential to contribute to the framework for developing new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies for preeclampsia.