Norman Beischer Foundation boost for Preeclampsia & Spina Bifida research

Two exciting Hudson Institute projects in Women’s & Newborn Health have received welcome funding from the Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation.

Improving preeclampsia outcomes

Associate Professor Miranda Davies-Tuck receives $74,117 for her project looking at better identification and treatment of preeclampsia, which she says remains one of the most challenging and unresolved problems in obstetric medicine.

This study will lay the groundwork to characterise the endometrial contribution to preeclampsia in humans and define how early biological processes shape later disease, for the first time.

A/Prof Davies-Tuck and her team expect to uncover novel cellular pathways, molecular targets and biomarkers that underpin not only preeclampsia, but a broader class of placental disorders, including fetal growth restriction, preterm birth and stillbirth.

Using patient-derived 3D bio-printed endometrial models, they aim to enable reconstruction of individual endometrial biology, providing a human-relevant platform to functionally test therapeutic responses and support a pipeline for identifying and refining targeted interventions. 

New hope for spina bifida

Dr Mikee Innocencio’s research will focus on spina bifida, a condition that develops when the spine and spinal cord do not close properly early in pregnancy.

For some forms of this condition, treatment can involve complex surgery. However, there is a major unmet need for a treatment that protects the spinal cord while it is being surgically repaired, and Dr Innocencio believes that regenerative cell therapy offers this opportunity.

Earlier this year the first human trial of cell therapy for Myelomeningocele (MMC – the most severe form of spina bifida) showed positive results. This study builds on that proof-of-concept using human amnion epithelial cells (hAECs), obtained from donated placentae and which would otherwise be discarded.

Previous studies at Hudson Institute have shown that hAECs possess anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties in the developing nervous system.

Ultimately, this program aims to add a regenerative therapy to fetal surgery that preserves more functional neural tissue and improves mobility, continence, independence and quality of life for children with spina bifida.

Dr Innocencio hopes this grant of $74,039 from the Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation will provide the evidence needed to progress to larger safety, dose and efficacy studies.