PEARLS
Preeclampsia Research Laboratories
November 2005 newsletter
New Sponsors for PEARLS
MBF has agreed to sponsor the PEARLS lecture series. The inaugural lecture was held on the 13th September at the Heart Research Institute, 114 Pyrmont Bridge Rd, Camperdown and was a great success. Annemarie warned of the dangers of neglecting exercise and weight control and their effect on blood pressure in the future.
Mind you, we took all this in over a (single) glass of champagne, kindly donated by Angoves. Other new Sponsors include Abacus Ark, a professional family support network. Other event sponsors for the upcoming cocktail party are acknowledged on our PEARLS website - www.preeclampsia.org.au
PEARLS Scientists Acclaim
Angela Makris and Annemarie Hennessy won the prestigious Clinical Science award at the recent Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (Wellington). Charlene Thornton's project on clinical outcomes has now become the International benchmark standard for institutions in British Columbia, Canada and comparisons with Regional New South Wales will continue. With time, we are hoping that this excellent initiative will mean that we develop standards of care and that we can demonstrate improvements for everyone by comparing results - ALL thanks to PEARLS.
Dr Bei Xu has recently returned after a Heart Research Foundation Travel award to travel to Scotland to compare and learn new techniques in placental research. She has some great new ideas on placentology and blood pressure research.
PEARLS PROJECTS
We are in our THIRD year in the Heart Research Institute and we haev been fortunate to move into the new purposed-built quarters on Pyrmont Bridge Rd.
Preeclampsia Blood Test Project
Dr Angela Makris
Angela's blood tests have given us some amazing insights into the sequence of events that occur in preeclampsia. These tests are likely to prove useful in testing women with increased blood pressure and deciding who has preeclampsia or who has just elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Angela has also found that given the enormous differences between women, the tests will need to take into account factors pertaining to the mother's health as well as the baby's ultrasound results.
Drugs in Pregnancy Projects
Dr Bei Xu
Dr Xu has found some astonishing results looking at the effect of blood pressure drugs on the placenta. It is likely that they do not all act the same, although they all lower blood pressure. Some beneficial aspects of these medications especially with regard to how the placenta makes its hormone may mean that we make better choices for mother and their babies in the future.
Dr Angela Makris Angela has discovered some beneficial effects of Garlic on placental function. Annemarie recently discussed these findings with the research team at Blackmores Health.
Completed Study! Annemarie, Dr Robert Ogle, Charlene Thornton
The PIVOT study looking at the effects of different medication on the baby when these drugs are used in crisis situation, has at last been completed. The women in this study have generously given of themselves in the middle of a blood pressure emergency so that we can better tailor the treatment given. After 6 years and much blood sweat and tears, we have finished the recruitment and are in the process of analyzing the results.
Placental Growth Projects
Bei Xu
Bei is hoping to commence a project looking at the effects of the drugs we use on early (10 week) placenta growth. These are very tricky experiments which will involve watching the placenta grow in a petri dish. Although we are interested in the placenta as a whole, we would also benefit from looking at the contribution of the mothers cells in this environment and access to a fancy new machine - the FLOW Cytometer would mean that we could take these experiments to a new level. This work is being done in collaboration with other fantastic researchers at the Heart Research Institiute.
Pain relief after pregnancy Project
Geoff Brieger, Geraldine Cole, Annemarie Hennessy, Charlene Thornton, Robert Ogle. Sr Jane Tooher, Angela Makris, Dr Brendan Orr
The Friends of the Mater Foundation have awarded the team a grant to include the Mater in our study of the effects of pain relief medication on blood pressure after delivery. This exciting development will allow a much faster recruitment rate for the study and greater applicability of the results to other centres. Geraldine Cole has joined our team and is already working tirelessly to get the study underway there. Support in kind has been graciously provided by the team from Douglass Hanly Moir, Pathology for which we are eternally grateful.
Education and Awareness Projects
Amanda Davidson, Annemarie Hennessy, Geoff Brieger
The team are attempting to attract corporate funding for a community lecture series. This will showcase our own Scientific and clinical team as well as the new building at the Heart Research institute. The focus will be on women health issues, especially cardiovascular health.
Clinical Outcomes Project.
Charlene Thornton, Assoc Prof Annemarie Hennessy, Prof David Henderson Smart, Dr Andrew Child, Dr Robert Ogle.
Our capacity to determine whether women are at long term risk of future cardiovascular disease is only as good as out ability to define the extent of hypertension in their pregnancy. Charlene Thornton has identified the need for accurate data recording to achieve this and has developed clinical indicators where outcomes can be improved for mother and babies by identifying which factors in the management of these ladies which are amenable to change. This study may lead to an improved ability to directly compare outcomes between hospital and states, to determine the best possible care for our mothers and the least risk to their future cardiovascular health.
Preeclampsia Clinics in India
Annemarie Hennessy
Annemarie continues to negotiate to have a major maternity hospital in Southern rural India work with the PEARLS team to provide access to clinical guidelines and to join in the research projects.
FUNDING
As always the amazing support of the PEARLS MOTHERS and FRIENDS has kept us going. The Recent Jazz dinner at the mighty Mirabelles (Michael and Angela Potts) raised nearly $40,000 for laboratory equipment, wages and supplies. A huge thank you goes to Raphaël Jewellers who continue to be a rock for us (or a gem) and Michael and Angela Potts who gave us their restaurant and hospitality for the night.
Up coming events include the annual cocktail party, this year at Cargo, Kings Wharf, Sydney! A big thank you to Joe Akelian (Raphaël), Amanda Davidson and Ramona Roach for pulling this all together. Details will be available on our website www.preeclampsia.org.au (Tickets $70 per head). Or contact preeclampsia@hotmail.com
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