Inflammatory Disorders in Pregnancy

Maternal and fetal morbidity, carrying the risk of life-long disability, is closely associated with pregnancy disorders. From implantation to parturition, the immune system and inflammation play significant roles during pregnancy. However, inflammation needs to be tightly controlled since aberrant inflammatory reactions may induce tissue malfunction and metabolic derangements, leading to pregnancy disorders. Similarly, neonatal complications, such as lung and brain injury, but also obesity, diabetes and vascular disease in later life, result from a fetal inflammatory response to factors underlying, or resulting from, pathologic pregnancies. DP-iDP bundles already existing network of research to establish a long-term center of educational excellence aimed at exploring inflammatory diseases in pregnancy. DP-iDP builds on the international PhD-program Molecular Medicine` (MOLMED) launched in 2006 at the Medical University of Graz (MedUni). With this program our university established a solid basis of operation regarding recruitment and collaborative supervision of PhD students and offers in-depth training for students, cutting-edge methodology and intense interdisciplinary supervision among a selected consortium of researchers. The ORPPHEUS award- a European network for best practice within PhD programs and the HR Excellence in Research label for MOLMED illustrates international recognition of highest standards in working conditions. Given the high prevalence and ample impact of pregnancy complications on health care system, inflammation and the underlying mechanisms in gestation deserve further exploration. Thus it needs specialized training for a new generation of PhDs, in order to pioneer novel therapeutic interventions. The major topics of DP-iDP include the placenta as the life-sustaining organ for the unborn, and its changes of morphology and function at sites of inflammation in early/late pregnancy. Additionally, DP-iDP covers also placental metabolism and the understanding of soluble mediators of immunity as important responses to maternal inflammation. At systemic levels, we will address changes of bioactive mediators and enzymes. Innovative approaches to the clinical classification of `inflamed pregnancies, the maternal microbiome, but also the impact of preventative actions will be considered in our research. Our faculty consists of 12 internationally renowned researchers, 3 having a medical, and 9 a life-science background, with 4 of us being based at the Department of Obstetrics warranting constant access to patient samples. This specific base and our joint expertise in obstetrics, immunology, cell biology, and microbiology put us in an unprecedented position to address pregnancy-related pathologies in a comprehensive, interdisciplinary manner. The strength of DP-iDP is the close proximity between clinical research infrastructure, clinical centers, and basic research laboratories which facilitates intellectual and technological exchange between students and faculty. In the long run, this privileged intramural position will provide a setting where students can be trained in a highly specific, but yet interdisciplinary manner, by which translation of promising research results to patient care is significantly accelerated.

The DP-iDP was an interdisciplinary research project funded by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) and the Medical University of Graz which was initiated in summer 2018. Within the scope of the research work, inflammatory pathophysiological diseases in pregnancy were investigated with the aim of understanding the causal relationships and deriving new therapeutic possibilities. The multidisciplinary and translational research team was led by Prof. Dr. Christian Wadsack. Within the framework of the doc.fund program, the goal was to offer an excellent, structured doctoral education program oriented to international standards. Under the leadership of renowned professors from the Medical University of Graz and the Karl-Franzens University of Graz, a total of 20 young researchers from 9 countries were employed at the Medical University of Graz and not only received excellent doctoral training but also conducted research at the highest level.