The Preeclampsia Foundation has announced a call for Letters of Intent under its Peter Joseph Pappas Research Grants program. This initiative aims to advance scientific discoveries that could eventually eliminate the need for premature delivery as a treatment for severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and other pregnancy-related hypertensive disorders. Established in memory of Peter Joseph Pappas, the infant son of preeclampsia survivor Lauren Pappas and her husband Clement, the program plans to distribute multiple research grants in 2025, with total funding of up to $200,000 over two years.
Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals addressing priority gaps identified during a 2020 workshop on preeclampsia jointly organized by the Preeclampsia Foundation and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Relevant topics may include investigating the biological mechanisms and subtypes of preeclampsia, developing more accurate diagnostic or predictive tools, exploring treatments that can prevent, reverse, or stop placental and organ damage associated with the disease, and promoting preconception and inter-conception health to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Preference will be given to projects that utilize or expand resources available through the Preeclampsia Registry™, which includes self-reported information, whole-exome sequencing data, and clinical records. Proposals that generate new datasets or biological samples suitable for inclusion in the Registry are also encouraged. Detailed eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.
The grant program honors Peter Pappas, who was born at 29 weeks following complications from severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Since its inception, the fund has supported nearly a dozen research projects focused on areas such as potential treatments, genetic factors, and the role of placental function in the development of preeclampsia.
Reflecting on their motivation, Lauren Pappas shared that the loss of their son after a 29-week delivery caused by preeclampsia inspired the family to establish the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund to help prevent similar tragedies for others.
Clement Pappas noted that continued support from relatives, friends, and the Foundation has enabled meaningful progress toward the long-term objective of eliminating preterm births caused by preeclampsia by the year 2050.
Additional information about the funding opportunity is available online. Letters of Intent must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 14, 2026.
Researchers are encouraged to submit proposals addressing priority gaps identified during a 2020 workshop on preeclampsia jointly organized by the Preeclampsia Foundation and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine. Relevant topics may include investigating the biological mechanisms and subtypes of preeclampsia, developing more accurate diagnostic or predictive tools, exploring treatments that can prevent, reverse, or stop placental and organ damage associated with the disease, and promoting preconception and inter-conception health to improve pregnancy outcomes.
Preference will be given to projects that utilize or expand resources available through the Preeclampsia Registry™, which includes self-reported information, whole-exome sequencing data, and clinical records. Proposals that generate new datasets or biological samples suitable for inclusion in the Registry are also encouraged. Detailed eligibility requirements and application guidelines are available on the Foundation’s website.
The grant program honors Peter Pappas, who was born at 29 weeks following complications from severe preeclampsia and HELLP syndrome. Since its inception, the fund has supported nearly a dozen research projects focused on areas such as potential treatments, genetic factors, and the role of placental function in the development of preeclampsia.
Reflecting on their motivation, Lauren Pappas shared that the loss of their son after a 29-week delivery caused by preeclampsia inspired the family to establish the Peter Joseph Pappas Fund to help prevent similar tragedies for others.
Clement Pappas noted that continued support from relatives, friends, and the Foundation has enabled meaningful progress toward the long-term objective of eliminating preterm births caused by preeclampsia by the year 2050.
Additional information about the funding opportunity is available online. Letters of Intent must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, August 14, 2026.
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