Cara HELLPs is excited to announce the recent partnership with Preeclampsia Foundation Canada.
Cara HELLPs 2021 Vision Grant Recipient Press Release
Preeclampsia Foundation Canada Vision Grant Research Grant Recipients Announced
October 18, 2021 – Melbourne, FL –– Preeclampsia Foundation Canada have announced that Priyadarshini Pantham, PhD, and Anum Minhas, MD, MHS, are recipients of their 2021 Vision Grants. These highly competitive monetary awards recognize the best junior investigators with novel research ideas in preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
A scientific review committee reviews all Vision Grant applications with a further review by a patient advisory board, who then make a recommendation on the awardees for the year. Preeclampsia Foundation Canada’s Board of Directors rendered the final decision on these recommendations.
Dr. Pantham’s research is funded by generous support from Cara HELLPs research fund, a newly established research fund at Preeclampsia Foundation Canada that focuses specifically on HELLP syndrome research. Her study, “Integrated Analysis of Placental and Extra Cellular RNA in Preeclampsia with HELLP,” will be conducted at the University of California, San Diego. The purpose of this study is to identify the differences between preeclampsia and preeclampsia with HELLP syndrome by creating molecular profiles of placentas, maternal blood, and urine, paving the way for the identification of gene targets that may be manipulated to treat these syndromes in the future.
Pantham earned her PhD in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Auckland, New Zealand in 2014 under the direction of Larry Chamley and currently serves as an Assistant Professor at UC San Diego. Her dissertation utilized an integrated –omics approach – transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics – to identify molecular mechanisms of increased placental death in response to antiphospholipid antibodies, a risk factor for. She was a post-doctoral scholar at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical from 2014 to 2016. Her research was focused on investigating the placental mechanisms of developmental origins of adult diseases, using a baboon model of maternal undernutrition, and primary human placental trophoblast culture techniques.
“As a woman of color myself, I am dedicated to raising awareness of the disproportionate effects of this deadly syndrome on women of color, and committed to improving maternal and fetal outcomes with my research, with the aim of reducing the loss of women and their babies affected by this disorder worldwide,” said Pantham.
Dr. Minhas’ research “Racial Disparities in the Cardiovascular Effects of Preeclampsia” will be conducted at John Hopkins University. The purpose of the study is to analyze whether Black women have more abnormal function of coronary vessels and higher inflammation compared to White women after experiencing preeclampsia during their pregnancy, with the hope of identifying better therapeutic targets for Black women in the future.
Minhas Anum received her medical degree from Duke University and completed her internal medicine residency at the University of Michigan. At John Hopkins, she serves on the cardiology department team, working on imaging, including the study of CT reconstruction for transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
“At this time, we do not have enough research to guide us in which treatments may be the most helpful in reducing women’s risk of future heart disease or whether certain medications may work better for Black Americans compared to white,” said Minhas. “Increasing our understanding of why women with preeclampsia have higher heart disease risk can provide us direction on how to manage them to reduce their risk of future heart disease and perhaps also a second preeclamptic pregnancy.”
“Preeclampsia Foundation Canada is very proud to have the opportunity this year to support and invest in research that will impact and make a difference for all expectant women and their babies,” said Violet Mateljan, President of Preeclampsia Foundation Canada Board of Directors.
For more information or to arrange an interview with these Vision Grant recipients or the leadership of Preeclampsia Foundation Canada, please call 1.800.665.9341.
Preeclampsia Foundation Canada
Preeclampsia Foundation Canada was incorporated under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act in May 2015. A charity dedicated to its mission of raising awareness and advancing education and research of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. These activities are made possible by the combined efforts of our dedicated Board of Directors, Medical Advisory Board members, donors, and volunteers. For more information, visit www.preeclampsiacanada.ca.
About the Preeclampsia Foundation
The Preeclampsia Foundation is a U.S.-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization established in 2000 to improve the outcomes of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy by educating, supporting, and engaging the community, improving healthcare practices, and finding a cure. We envision a world where preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy no longer threaten the lives of mothers and babies. For more information, visit www.preeclampsia.org
Final Week to Get Registered or Donate!
Please go to events page to register for this years event!!
Despite COVID-19, the Cara HELLPs community will VIRTUALLY rally forth in honour of Cara with the same friendly competition!
Vision Grant Award Program
According to the World Health Organization, preeclampsia is one of the least funded areas of research, especially when considered against Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs). Preeclampsia Foundation Canada’s Vision Grant Program funds medical research pertaining to the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Preeclampsia Foundation Canada, through the generous support of our donors, corporate partnerships, and community events will award up to two medical research Vision Grants to study preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. One of the awards will specifically fund HELLP syndrome research thanks to the generous support from Cara HELLPs research fund recently established at Preeclampsia Foundation Canada.
It is our hope that successful projects will, in turn, garner additional research support from major funding organizations, earn scientific merit at important meetings, and inspire young investigators to commit their life’s work to this complex field of study.
To Date Cara HELLPs has Raised $68,589
Past Fundraisers
Join us for Cara HELLPs 2nd Annual Preeclampsia Awareness 5km Walk/Run Fundraiser on Saturday October 5, 2019 at South Glenmore Park. We encourage you to
bring your families, strollers, wheelchairs, non runners, etc. everyone welcome!
No registration fee for children 12 and under! Rain or Shine!
Prize for first place woman & man and we will be selling raffle tickets for many great prizes.
This will be CASH only.
We thank you for your support!
Deposit to Calgary Health Trust - Cara HELLPs Fund $5,200
To Date Cara HELLPs has Raised $48,138
Cara HELLPs Fund to Date 2018 $41,000
Thank you to the Calgary Properties Lions Club for there very generous donation of $5000
Thank you all for your continued love, support, contributions and donations! We continue our journey to educate and spread awareness of this potentially deadly disorder, all funds raised is going to the
Calgary Maternal Fetal Medicine Centre (EFW Seton location) which is conducting a pilot study (The Enhanced First Trimester Screen study (eFTS) with the goal of introducing a preeclampsia screening and prevention program in Calgary.
Cara HELLPs 1st Annual Preeclampsia Awareness 5km Walk/Run Fundraiser was a huge success and Cara shone upon us on this special day! 💗
I wanted to express my deepest gratitude to everyone who came out to support Cara HELLPs 1st Annual Preeclampsia Awareness 5km walk/run Fundraiser on October 6, 2018. We had 140 registrants and 125 that participated. We raised roughly $15,000.
I am so touched by the outpour of support and love and the emotions running high, but I have had tears of happiness instead of grief! I want to thank all that showed their support by registering and participating in this event, all the amazing volunteers for their time and use of equipment, some of whom I have only met for the first time who offered their help, all the sponsors for donating great prizes, and the many, many donations that have been flooding in! This would not be possible with out the many villages at our side, so thank you once again for all for your ongoing love & support. What really hit me this past weekend is that we are making a difference and have already saved lives.
I will continue to advocate in the education and awareness of this deadly disorder Preeclampsia and HELLP Syndrome!
Much gratitude! ❤️
Join us for our Cara HELLPs 1st Annual Preeclampsia Awareness Fundraiser on
Saturday October 6, 2018 at South Glenmore Park. We encourage you to
bring your families, anyone in wheel chairs, strollers, non runners, etc. everyone welcome!
No registration fee for children 12 and under! Rain or Shine!
Prize for first place woman & man and we will be selling raffle tickets for many great prizes.
This will be CASH only.
We thank you for your support!
Our goal is intended to educate through public awareness and help in fundraising for the research of this deadly disorder and medical conditions of Preeclampsia and HELLP Research into preeclampsia will help reduce maternal and infant deaths.
Although medical professionals continue to advance their knowledge and research around these conditions, there is still a lot unknown. Currently the Calgary Maternal Fetal Medicine Centre (EFW Seton location) is conducting a pilot study (The Enhanced First Trimester Screen study (eFTS) with the goal of introducing a preeclampsia screening and prevention program in Calgary (along with other cities in Canada).
Our funding goal over time to HELLP with funding this research is $100,000.
We greatly appreciate your donations to this cause and your love and support will most definitely make a difference to myself and my family as we continue to maneuver our way through this very difficult journey!
Tri something new, come out and support the Women's Triathlon Festival in Strathmore. Cara HELLPs is the official charity for this event on Sunday September 16th, 2018
Our family wishes to thank all who came out to support the golf4cara Golf Tournament. It was a sold out fundraiser and a huge success, as we raised $20,000 towards our goal.
A special thank you to all family members involved, to family and friends who travelled far and wide to be here, all the amazing sponsorships for the 18 holes, the many donations of prizes and money, the Six Pack Wolf Pack, Mickey for your golf4cara website, the Corona hole sponsorship, the Doctors from Alberta Health Services and Jared Heynen of Venray Images who captured many memories of the days event. You can view these pictures on his website www.venrayimages.com.
We could not have done this without our villages at our side and for all of you.
CARA H.E.L.L.Ps
GOLF TOURNAMENT
Friday July 13, 2018
Inglewood Golf and Country Club
Thank you to my Aussie family for your very successful Cara H.E.L.L.Ps
BBQ Picnic fundraiser, they raised $2500.00 of which $1250 went to AAPEC and $1250 to
Cara H.E.L.L.Ps Awareness walk/run. Also, I wanted to thank AAPEC for partnering up on this event and for all the many donations made to make this event happen.