Promotionsstipendien I/2026

Thema: "Endothelial characteristics in children born to mothers with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy"

Zusammenfassung:
Preeclampsia is a systemic maternal disorder characterised by hypertension and associated complications such as acute kidney injury, HELLP syndrome and eclampsia. It is one of the leading causes of maternal and fetal morbidity. While experimental models and epidemiological studies in humans suggest that the offspring of mothers with preeclampsia are predisposed to long-term cardiovascular risk, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this project is to investigate the molecular, biological and functional properties of endothelial cells in offspring from pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disorders. To this end, we will compare cellular gene and protein expression, metabolic parameters, and functional parameters of fetal endothelial cells obtained from the umbilical cords of offspring from pregnancies involving healthy women and women with hypertensive disorders. The study will determine whether endothelial dysfunction is present in fetal endothelial cells obtained after hypertensive pregnancy disorders and whether it can be correlated to specific maternal risk factors. This study is a feasibility study designed to inform a future clinical study. It is expected that the data will help to clarify the mechanisms by  which pregnancy complications affect offspring in the long term, as well as helping to identify predictive maternal parameters.