Summer Studentship profile

In pregnancy, two common issues for expecting mothers are iron deficiency (ID) and high blood pressure disorders (known as HDP), and these occur together in up to 16 per cent of pregnancies. Alone or in tandem, these health problems can lead to pregnancy complications, including preterm birth and low birth weight. What is more, studies have shown that ID and HDP can affect the mother's heart health, which can persist long after the child is born. 

By extension, it follows that these lasting health consequences in a first pregnancy could affect outcomes in subsequent pregnancies, but this has yet to be investigated. To test if this is the case, we propose using an animal model that spontaneously develops high blood pressure in early adulthood. A normal or low iron diet to induce ID during both the first and subsequent pregnancy will be implemented. 

During the second pregnancy, we will then study heart health in both the mothers and their fetal offspring. In addition to looking at biomarkers of heart health in the blood, we will study key pathways involved in heart development and function. 

One key area of interest is whether the hearts of mothers and their offspring have increased levels of free radicals, which are molecules known to cause damage and lead to disease if they occur in excess. To do this, we will study if important antioxidant pathways are affected by either HDP and/or ID. Differences between male and female fetuses will also be studied. 

The ultimate goal of our work is to identify whether repeated exposures to ID and high blood pressure confer additional pregnancy risks in expectant mothers and to determine if treatments should be tailored according to the number of previous pregnancies.  

Navdeep Badhan was supervised by Stephane Bourque and his summer studentship was funded by the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation. He is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science Biochemistry Honors program.