Dr Nozomi Itani

I’m interested in fetal origins of cardiovascular disease in adverse pregnancy.

Chronic fetal hypoxia and associated fetal growth restriction is one of the most common consequences of complicated pregnancy, such as during placental insufficiency and preeclampsia.  Chronic fetal hypoxia increases oxidative stress in the fetal heart and circulation and programmes cardiovascular disease in the adult offspring.  Given the global epidemic in heart and vascular disease, there is an urgent need to identify preventative therapy, particularly following clinical diagnosis of fetal growth restriction. My research investigates the effect of antioxidant therapies on the fetal cardiovascular system during hypoxic development.