Why blood pressure can stay high after preeclampsia
Official title: Mechanisms of post-preeclampsia hypertension
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11262830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how immune cells and tiny blood vessel changes may cause long-lasting high blood pressure in women after preeclampsia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00HL161321-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11262830 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with a history of preeclampsia who are concerned about or monitoring high blood pressure in the months to years after pregnancy would be most relevant to this work.
✕Less likely to help
People without a history of preeclampsia, including most men, are unlikely to directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
From my perspective as someone affected by preeclampsia, the team uses two pregnancy models that mimic human preeclampsia to study what happens after delivery. They examine small blood vessel structure and function, kidney changes, and immune T cells months after pregnancy. The researchers expose animals to blood pressure stress after delivery to see whether vessels and immune signals like the chemokine CCL5 drive bigger blood pressure rises. Findings aim to link lasting vascular and immune changes from pregnancy to later high blood pressure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could point to immune or vascular targets to prevent or treat long-term high blood pressure after preeclampsia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies show immune cells can drive hypertension, but using pregnancy models to explain long-term postpartum high blood pressure is a newer area.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Biwer, Lauren Alysse — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Biwer, Lauren Alysse
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Reducing chronic high blood pressure after preeclampsia to protect heart and vessels
A randomized trial tests whether more intensive blood pressure control in the weeks after giving birth can lower long-term high blood pressure and improve blood vessel health in women who had a hypertensive pregnancy.
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Gestational hypertension and preeclampsia: better blood pressure targets before delivery
This study tests whether keeping blood pressure under 140/90 mmHg (instead of 160/110) during pregnancy with high blood pressure improves outcomes for mothers and babies.
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.