INTERNATIONAL HONORS for the heart research Institute

PhD student Francesca Charlton honored with international award

Francesca Charlton, PhD student in the Vascular Immunology Group and Lipid Research Group was awarded the Y.W. (Charlie) Loke Travel Award for Early Career Researchers to attend the International Federation of Placenta Associations meeting (IFPA) held recently in Norway.

Francesca presented her paper, focusing on ways to protect against pre-eclampsia or hypertension, which effects up to 10 per cent of women during the final stages of pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia places both the mother and child at significant risk with the only treatment being early induced delivery or Caesarean section. Long-term effects include increased risk of cardiovascular disease in mums and the various risks associated with premature birth for babies.

Francesca found that 'good cholesterol' (high density lipoprotein or HDL) works to support the creation of a well-structured placenta, which could in turn reduce the likelihood of the mother developing pre-eclampsia.