Treating preeclampsia by targeting protein buildup and faulty cell cleanup (autophagy)
Official title: Targeting proteinopathy/tauopathy and impaired autophagy for mechanistic understanding and therapeutic intervention of preeclampsia
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11311893 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether trehalose-like sugars can restore cells' cleanup systems and reduce toxic protein clumps that contribute to preeclampsia in pregnant people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $485,838 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD110408-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11311893 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for future related trials or for providing samples would be pregnant people diagnosed with or at high risk for preeclampsia who can attend the study site or affiliated clinics.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not pregnant or whose pregnancy hypertension has causes unrelated to protein aggregation or impaired autophagy are unlikely to benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers found that preeclampsia and Alzheimer’s share problems with toxic protein clumps and impaired cellular cleanup (autophagy). They will study placenta tissue and trophoblast cells and use humanized mouse models to see how protein aggregates form, trigger inflammation, and affect blood-vessel support for the fetus. The team will test trehalose and a related compound, lactotrehalose, to see if these sugars restore autophagy, reduce protein aggregation, and improve cell function. Lab studies on human cells, animal models, and analysis of human placenta samples will be combined to guide future patient-focused treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that clear harmful protein clumps, reduce inflammation, and lower the risk or severity of preeclampsia for pregnant people and their babies.
How similar studies have gone: Early laboratory and animal studies with trehalose-like compounds have shown promise in restoring autophagy and reducing protein aggregates, but these approaches are not yet proven in pregnant people.
Where this research is happening
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University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sharma, Surendra — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Sharma, Surendra
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.