Intersections of pre-pregnancy cardiometabolic risk factors, preeclampsia and cardiovascular disease in a lifecourse framework

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Anum S. Minhas, MD, MHS, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She seeks a Mentored Patient-Oriented Research Career Development Award in order to obtain essential skills and research experience for an independent career as a physician scientist in women’s cardiovascular health. Her research proposal details a five-year plan, with an overarching goal of understanding the role that pre-pregnancy cardiometabolic risk factors (hypertension, obesity and diabetes) play in preeclampsia disease pathophysiology and associated long-term cardiovascular risk using a lifecourse framework. The specific aims of the research are: 1) to identify distinct subtypes of preeclampsia via a machine learning approach using clinical measures and vascular and inflammatory markers during pregnancy, 2) to examine the impact of pre-pregnancy cardiometabolic risk factors on coronary endothelial function and vascular and inflammatory biomarkers in women with preeclampsia at 3 months postpartum via cardiac MRI, and 3) to determine the association of pre-pregnancy cardiometabolic risk factors and preeclampsia with biomarkers and risk of cardiovascular events at 10 years postpartum. This study will provide novel data that will inform therapeutic strategies to mitigate the risk of preeclampsia itself and of long-term cardiovascular events secondary to its occurrence. Dr. Minhas will receive training in advanced epidemiologic and statistical methods, including machine learning, at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She will master the conduct of clinical, imaging and biomarker studies. Her goals during the career development award period include gaining crucial skills in combining detailed smaller-scale human studies of risk mediators with larger epidemiologic and clinical database studies to help reduce health disparities and lessen the burden of maternal morbidity and mortality. Dr. Minhas has complete support from her mentoring team and institution. Her primary mentor, Dr. Josef Coresh, is an internationally recognized cardiovascular epidemiologist with success training generations of leading clinical researchers. Co-mentors Drs. Allison Hays and Chiadi Ndumele have expertise in novel cardiovascular imaging techniques, women’s health and cardiometabolic disorders. This triad of committed, complementary mentors will help Dr. Minhas achieve her career goals and access the resources and support necessary to transition into an independent academic career as a leader in women’s cardiovascular health research.