Neroli Sunderland, a PhD Student from the Vascular Immunology Group, has won a Young Investigator Travel Award, allowing her to present her research into high blood pressure in pregnancy at a world congress in Washington DC.

Neroli gave an oral presentation at the 16th Congress of the International Society for the Study of Hypertension in Pregnancy; entitled TNF-alpha infusion increases blood pressure, induces proteinuria and increases circulating sFLT-1 in pregnancy. Her presentation demonstrated the relationship between proteins and high blood pressure in women suffering from preeclampsia, the most common disorder among pregnant women, which is characterised by elevated blood pressure and protein found in the urine.

In her study, Neroli was able to find a link between inflammatory cytokines, proteins secreted by cells that affect cellular activity and control inflammation, and the main symptom of preeclampsia - high blood pressure. By examining the proteins found in the blood of patients with preeclampsia, Neroli discovered a link between several types of proteins. In her research, Neroli has shown that one of the most important molecules involved in preeclampsia, called sFlt-1, has a direct relationship with the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-alpha.
The discovery of this link is an important step towards a better understanding of how and why some women develop preeclampsia, which is a common cause of morbidity for mothers and infants and is also a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease.

Other researchers in the Vascular Immunology Group, who also presented their findings at the congress, accompanied Neroli. Shirlene Lim, Charlene Thornton, Caroline Royle and Bei Xu, presented a series of 8 posters. Their poster presentations dealt with various aspects of preeclampsia and hypertension, demonstrating the fruits of their recent research efforts.

The congress brought international experts in hypertension in pregnancy, such as obstetric physicians, obstetricians and scientists, together in the US capital of Washington. This congress provides the only international forum to discuss the research findings and key issues that will directly impact upon clinical care for mothers affected by hypertension.