Aishwarya Rengarajan, PhD, María Virumbrales-Muñoz, PhD, assistant professor in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, and Derek Boeldt, PhD, assistant professor in the UW Department of Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences, co-authored a new article published in the journal Lab on a Chip. Co-authors include Hannah E. Goldblatt, CNA, and David J. Beebe, PhD.
In “Immune cells and inflammatory mediators cause endothelial dysfunction in a vascular microphysiological system,” Rengarajan, Virumbrales-Muñoz, Boeldt, and co-authors evaluated the effect of inflammation and cardiovascular disease on vascular microphysiological systems (MPS). Their research found that inflammation contributes to endothelial dysfunction by disrupting the endothelial barrier.
“An inflammatory mixture (TNFα, IL-6, VEGF-A – 10 ng ml−1 each) induces endothelial dysfunction in vascular MPS via disrupted network level Ca2+ activity with 1 h exposure and via increased permeability with 48 hour exposure.”
Read the whole article here.
**by Ob-Gyn Communications Intern Paige Stevenson
The award supports one year of research associate salary and fringe benefits, from July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025.
Incredible work, Dr. Boeldt!
After a highly successful visit from Preeclampsia Foundation CEO Eleni Tsigas in the summer of 2022, the Department of Ob-Gyn was named a Preeclampsia Center of Excellence!
In June 2022, Kara Hoppe, DO, MS, associate professor of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Ian Bird, PhD, professor of Reproductive Sciences, and Derek Boeldt, PhD, assistant professor of Reproductive Sciences, presented their respective clinical and foundational preeclampsia research to Tsigas. The visit also included a roundtable lunch with patients and nurses and a site visit to EPIC, where Hoppe served as the physician representative.
The visit was a tremendous effort from all involved and this Preeclampsia Center of Excellence designation is well-deserved!
Exciting news from Derek Boeldt, PhD, assistant professor in the UW Ob-Gyn Division of Reproductive Sciences: he received a UnityPoint Health-Meriter Foundation grant for the project “Developing a Novel Diagnostic Test for the Early Detection of Preeclampsia”!
The grant will support a research project that will investigate a novel approach to develop specific biomarkers for early and efficient detection of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a major disorder of pregnancy that has severe health effects on mother and baby. Currently, there are no effective cures for this disorder or biomarkers that can be used for early clinical diagnosis.
Congratulations, Dr. Boeldt!
On May 13, 2021, the UW Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology hosted Department Research Day, featuring exceptional presentations on fundamental, clinical, and quality improvement research. Recorded presentations from Department Research Day are available now.
To start the morning, Kimberly Gregory, MD, MPH of Cedars-Sinai Obstetrics and Gynecology Department presented the keynote lecture “Patient Reported Outcomes in Ob/Gyn: What are they? Who Cares? And Why?”.
In the lecture, Gregory differentiated between three measures of patient outcomes, outlined types of patient-reported outcomes used in ob-gyn clinical care, and described how these measures can drive quality improvement efforts.
Other presentations at Department Research Day included:
“Bone Loss and Osteoporosis Risk in Younger Gynecologic Cancer Patients”, presented by graduating gynecologic oncology fellow Janelle Sobecki, MD, MA
“Connecting the Dots: The Role of Endothelial-Immune Interaction in the Pathophysiology of Preeclampsia”, presented by Derek Boeldt, PhD, of the Division of Reproductive Sciences
“Post-Cesarean Pain”, presented by Katie Antony, MD, of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine
You can watch the lectures from Department Research Day here.
