# Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, associated lipidomic changes, and preeclampsia risk

> **NIH NIH K23** · ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI · 2024 · $55,208

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Preeclampsia (PE) is a leading cause of maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States which has led to
an urgent need to accurately predict its risk. It is not known how nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the
liver manifestation of metabolic syndrome and the most prevalent liver disease among women, contributes to
PE risk. The long-term objective of this proposal is to define the relationship between NAFLD and PE, to
identify strategies to reduce the risk of PE, and to improve short- and long-term maternal outcomes in this
population. This project will evaluate the independent association of NAFLD with PE among overweight and
obese women. It will also study relevant lipid alterations in women with NAFLD in pregnancy which are
associated with endothelial dysfunction that leads to the clinical syndrome of PE, among NAFLD (compared to
non-NAFLD) patients during pregnancy. The Specific Aims of this proposal are: (1) To prospectively assess
whether NAFLD is an independent risk factor for: i) PE among overweight/obese women and ii) PE with liver
injury; (2) To determine whether women with NAFLD in pregnancy have altered levels of bioactive lipids
associated with endothelial cell dysfunction, compared with women without NAFLD in pregnancy. This study
will be performed in the Mount Sinai Health System, which provides care to a diverse and multiethnic patient
population disproportionately affected by both NAFLD and PE. This application will support the candidate's
career development into an independent patient-oriented investigator focused on the influence of liver disease
in pregnancy on preeclampsia risk and future maternal cardiovascular and liver health, a significant unmet
need. The proposed career development plan integrates advanced coursework in translational epidemiology,
lipidomics assessment, prospective study design/ analysis, and biostatistics, and experiential learning through
the conduct of the proposed research plan, all within a highly supportive research environment. The
mentorship team which includes senior investigators with expertise in epidemiologic and translational research
in hepatology (Friedman and Terrault), preeclampsia (Roberts), and prospective study design and advanced
biostatistical analysis (Sigel), will guide the candidate's research and career development. The superb
institutional infrastructure for developing successful clinical investigators and the substantial institutional
commitment to the candidate greatly strengthen this application. At the conclusion of this proposal's funding
period, Dr. Kushner will be optimally positioned as an independent physician-investigator studying the
intersection of liver disease and PE, and their implications on future maternal health.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10895276
- **Project number:** 5K23HL163486-02
- **Recipient organization:** ICAHN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT MOUNT SINAI
- **Principal Investigator:** Tatyana Kushner
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $55,208
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-08-01 → 2024-11-04

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10895276

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10895276, Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, associated lipidomic changes, and preeclampsia risk (5K23HL163486-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10895276. Licensed CC0.

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