Contact:
Eleni Tsigas
Executive Director
(321) 615-4449
eleni.tsigas@preeclampsia.org

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FEBRUARY 03, 2010 - Chicago, IL - February 3, 2010 - The Preeclampsia Foundation announced today that applications are being accepted for its 2010 Vision Grant Award Program. This year, up to two research grants will be awarded, totaling up to $25,000 each. Vision Grants are intended to provide initial funding for innovative ideas focused on the pathophysiology, diagnosis or treatment of preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy that might otherwise not be pursued due to lack of funding. Special consideration will be given to research with near-term potential for clinical application, although all novel, well-considered ideas are encouraged.
 
The application deadline is May 17, 2010, with awards announced August 27, 2010.  More information and application instructions can be found at www.preeclampsia.org/Vgrants.asp.
 
Since its inception, the funding program has invested $280,000, including this newly announced funding, in novel research ranging from molecular biology and immunology, to potential therapies, to the relationship of sleep-disordered breathing on preeclampsia. Grant awardees have been associated with some of the finest medical universities including Yale University, Northwestern University, and Magee Womens Research Institute in Pittsburgh. Each year, dozens of robust applications are received from around the world, from as far as India and Australia to nearby Canada and the United States. Research spawned by the Vision Grant program has resulted in advanced studies with more significant funding from the National Institutes of Health, presentations at scientific conferences, and has launched scientific careers in preeclampsia.
 
"I'm increasingly astounded by the breadth and quality of applications we receive," remarked Dr. Thomas Easterling, Director of the Preeclampsia Foundation’s Medical Advisory Board. "It just goes to show how important this issue is and how scarce traditional sources of research funding are."
 
About the Vision Grant Award Program:  According to the World Health Organization, preeclampsia is one of the least funded areas of research.  For this reason, the Preeclampsia Foundation provides Vision Grants to fund medical research pertaining to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
 
About Preeclampsia:  Sometimes referred to by its older name, toxemia, preeclampsia is a disorder that occurs during pregnancy and affects both the mother and the fetus. It is a rapidly progressive condition characterized by elevated blood pressure and protein in the urine; other symptoms often include swelling in the hands and face. Preeclampsia affects the mother's kidneys, liver and other vital organs and, if undetected or untreated, can lead to seizures (eclampsia), cerebral hemorrhage, failure in vital organs (e.g., kidney and heart) and death. The cause of preeclampsia is still not fully understood, and the only "cure" for the condition is delivery. Approximately five to eight percent of pregnancies are affected by preeclampsia, which, in the United States, translates to 300,000 pregnancies. It is the leading known cause of preterm births, and is responsible for approximately 76,000 maternal deaths and half a million infant deaths worldwide annually. There are several types of preeclampsia, including HELLP syndrome, a particularly dangerous variant.
 
About the Preeclampsia Foundation:  The Preeclampsia Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000. It is dedicated to funding research, raising awareness, and providing support and education for those whose lives have been touched by preeclampsia, HELLP Syndrome and other hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. For more information, call toll free (800) 665-9341 or visit www.preeclampsia.org.