Our research
Fejzo’s current work is centered on root cause identification, prediction, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adverse pregnancy conditions including HG and preeclampsia to improve maternal, fetal, and child outcomes.
Our research brings together genetics, molecular biology, and clinical evidence to address conditions that have too often been misunderstood. The goal is to turn biological insight into meaningful progress in women’s health.
A closer look
Studying genetic variation helps reveal the biological roots of conditions affecting women’s health.
GENETICS & DISCOVERY
Our work connects genetic variation with the GDF15 hormone pathway to understand why some women experience severe pregnancy sickness. Multi-ancestry studies help expand this understanding across populations.
Related publicationsPREDICTION & PREVENTION
Current research explores preconception risk prediction, potential prevention strategies, and the relationship between treatment, GDF15 levels, and HG symptoms. These are research areas, not clinical recommendations.
Related publicationsMATERNAL & CHILD HEALTH
We study HG and preeclampsia, including circulating risk proteins during pregnancy and the relationship between genetic variants and birthweight, to better understand maternal and child outcomes.
Related publications
Marlena Fejzo · TIME Woman of the Year, 2024
Meet the principal investigator
Marlena Fejzo, PhD is a 2024 TIME Woman of the Year honored for her central role in the discovery of the main cause of morning sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum. She is a Harvard-trained women’s health scientist who has published peer-reviewed articles on many diseases of women including ovarian and breast cancer, multiple sclerosis, and discovered the first genes for uterine fibroids, nausea and vomiting of pregnancy (NVP), and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
Fejzo is a Clinical Professor at the University of Southern California, Chief Scientific Officer of The Morning Sickness and HG Clinic, Research Director and Advisory Council Member of the HER Foundation, Board Member of the Foundation for Women’s Health, Member of Women’s Health Access Matters, Member of former First Lady Jill Biden’s Women’s Health Network, and a consultant for NGM Bio.
In addition, she is a TIME100 Health Honoree, received the National Organization for Women Victoria Mastrobuono Award in Women’s Health, Forbes 50 Over 50 award in Innovation, is a Falling Walls Breakthrough of the Year Finalist, and the inaugural BII & Science Translational Medicine Prize for Innovations in Women’s Health grand prize winner.
