# An Integrative Omics Approach to Identify Biomarkers Related to Preeclampsia and Breast Cancer Risks

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $498,789

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Preeclampsia is the medical condition characterized by hypertension and proteinuria in pregnant women. It
occurs in 5 to 8% of all pregnancies (as common as breast cancer) and is the leading cause of morbidity and
mortality for both the mother and the unborn child. Surprisingly, epidemiological studies have shown strong
evidence that women associated with preeclamptic pregnancies have almost 50% reduced rate of breast
cancers decades later. However, due to ethical and practical reasons, direct evidence from long-term follow up
in human population is lacking. Moreover, the underlying mechanism to explain the lasting effect of
preeclampsia remains unknown. Here we propose an alternative and integrative omics approach to investigate
the molecular links between preeclampsia and breast cancer risks later in life. We will conduct a nested case
control study to investigate the epigenome, RNA-Seq transcriptome and proteomics differences in the placenta
and matched maternal blood DNA samples associated with preeclampsia. The de-identified samples will be
collected through the Hawaii Biorepository (HiBR), and they reflect the unique multi-ethnic population of
Hawaii. We will construct bioinformatics pipelines to analyze all three types of omics data individually, and
develop new computational methods for omics data integration. We will identify coherent genes, modules and
biological pathways as the biomarkers of preeclampsia. Moreover, we will compare our data with the DNA
methylome, RNA-Seq transcriptome, and proteomics data of the breast cancer samples from The Cancer
Genome Atlas. Through such comparison, we will uncover the cancer-related genes, modules and biological
pathways within the preeclampsia samples. This will provide direct molecular-level evidence to link
preeclampsia and breast cancer risks later in life, which is practically impossible using the approach of
population follow-up. It will also identify biomarkers of breast cancer susceptibility as early as a child's birth, for
the purpose of cancer prevention.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10076552
- **Project number:** 5R01HD084633-05
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Lana X Garmire
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $498,789
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-08-19 → 2023-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10076552

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10076552, An Integrative Omics Approach to Identify Biomarkers Related to Preeclampsia and Breast Cancer Risks (5R01HD084633-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10076552. Licensed CC0.

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