Maladaptive cardiac remodelling in adult offspring from hypoxic pregnancies: Role of cellular calcium homeostasis
If a growing foetus is partially deprived of oxygen, due for example to or placental infection or maternal smoking, it can seriously impair the development of the heart and increase the risk of heart disease in later life. However, the way that low oxygen ‘programmes’ the foetal heart in this way remains unclear. Several studies have shown that prenatal deprivation of oxygen changes the way calcium levels are controlled in heart cells. In this project, Dr Gina Galli and her team want to find out if this mechanism triggers heart diseases in later life. They will also test whether treating mothers with the antioxidant melatonin is able to prevent changes in calcium control, and if it goes on to protect heart health later in life in rats. This research could lead to the development of a simple and cost-effective medicine to combat pre-natal risks that have long-lasting effects on heart and circulatory health.
Project details
| Grant amount | £264,114 |
|---|---|
| Grant type | Project Grants |
| Application type | Project Grant |
| Start Date | 09 May 2019 |
| Duration | 3 years |
| Reference | PG/18/5/33527 |
| Status | In Progress |
£50 could support one of our early career scientists to conduct two hours of research into finding cures for heart and circulatory diseases.
