# A Novel Therapy For Preeclampsia

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MED CTR · 2020 · $381,250

## Abstract

Preeclampsia remains a major health concern, affecting 5-10% of all pregnancies in the United States. It is a
leading cause of maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Currently, there is no effective therapy for the
management of the preeclamptic patient, with the disease only remitting after birth. While the underlying
mechanisms are not clear, it is believed that inadequate remodeling of the maternal vasculature leads to
placental hypo-perfusion, resulting in chronic placental hypoxia/ischemia. In response the placenta releases
pathogenic factors into the maternal blood stream, leading to widespread maternal endothelial dysfunction and
hypertension. In recent years, a great deal of attention has been focused on the secretion of an anti-
angiogenic protein, the fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1). Despite intensive research into this pathogenic
pathway, no therapeutics have emerged which can adequately target sFlt-1 in the preeclampsia patient. In this
proposal, we describe a novel therapeutic protein which consists of placental growth factor (PlGF), a VEGF
family member specific for Flt-1, fused to the synthetic protein carrier Elastin Like Polypeptide (ELP), which we
have recently demonstrated restricts attached therapeutics to the maternal compartment improving fetal safety
during administration. We hypothesize that ELP-PlGF will attenuate the maternal and fetal complications
associated with placental insufficiency, and may therefore be a potential therapeutic for the management of
preeclampsia. This proposal will study the safety and efficacy of this therapeutic in a relevant preclinical
animal model of preeclampsia.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9956613
- **Project number:** 5R01HL137791-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MED CTR
- **Principal Investigator:** Eric Matthew George
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $381,250
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9956613

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9956613, A Novel Therapy For Preeclampsia (5R01HL137791-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9956613. Licensed CC0.

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