College of Medicine
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University of Nebraska Medical Center

About Dr. Rana's Research Lab

Dr. Rana’s research is dedicated to uncovering the biological mechanisms that drive the development and progression of preeclampsia to enhance prediction and management strategies. Her work has been instrumental in establishing the clinical utility of angiogenic biomarkers—such as sFlt-1 and PlGF—for identifying women at risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes. Based largely on her work, these biomarkers are approved by FDA for clinical use in USA.  

She leads collaborative national and international studies that examine the relationship between these biomarkers and both immediate and long-term complications in affected women. Key areas of focus include: 

  1. Use of angiogenic biomarkers for prediction of adverse outcomes among women with suspected preeclampsia.  
  2. Preeclampsia and risk of cardiovascular disease.   
  3. Use of small molecules that inhibit sFlt1 as a potential treatment of preeclampsia.  
  4. Systematic Treatment and Management of Postpartum Hypertension.  

Dr. Rana also is deeply committed to reducing health disparities by quality improvement initiatives. To address the issue of postpartum hypertension and disparity in postpartum care, Dr. Rana established a quality improvement initiative called the Systematic Treatment and Management of Postpartum Hypertension program. This program has won the HHS innovator award (2021,2022, 2023) and the 2023 Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity.   

Dr. Rana's work bridges clinical research and health equity by combining biomarker-based diagnostics to better identify women at high risk for preeclampsia with innovative care models like STAMPP-HTN. Her efforts are transforming management of preeclampsia and postpartum hypertension and reducing disparity in obstetrical care for at-risk populations.  

Funding and Publications

Explore Dr. Rana's active grants and recent publications to see how innovative studies and collaborative efforts are shaping the future of care for mothers and babies.

Past Funding

Dr. Rana’s research has been supported by diverse funding sources across academia, industry and government. Below is a summary of her past funded projects organized by research focus.

These studies focus on identifying and validating biomarkers (especially sFlt-1 and PlGF) for diagnosing and managing preeclampsia: 

  • U.S. Sample Collection Study for Reference Range Determination of sFlt-1 and PlGF (Roche Diagnostics, 2023–2024) – Site PI 
    Goal: Establish reference ranges for biomarkers to support FDA submission. 
  • First Trimester Risk Assessment for Preeclampsia Study (Cedars-Sinai, 2021–2023) – Site PI 
    Goal: Predict early-onset and preterm preeclampsia using first-trimester biomarkers. 
  • TIME PE Study (Roche Diagnostics, 2021–2024) – Site PI 
    Goal: Evaluate sFlt-1/PlGF ratio’s impact on clinical decision-making. 
  • Identification and Validation of a Cut-off for the Ratio of Soluble Fms-like Tyrosine Kinase-1 to Placental Growth Factor (sFlt-1/PlGF) to Stratify Risk in Pregnant Women with Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy - PRAECIS (Cedars-Sinai, 2019–2022) – Site PI 
    Goal: Identify and validate sFlt-1/PlGF ratio cut-offs for risk stratification. 
  • Circulating Antigenic Factors in Women with Suspected Preeclampsia (Siemens, 2017–2020) – Site PI  
  • Sequential Antigenic Factors and Preeclampsia-Related Complications (AHA, 2013–2015) – PI  
  • Plasma Antigenic Factors and Preeclampsia/Eclampsia in Haiti (BIDMC, 2013–2014) – PI  
  • Detecting Subclinical Myocardial Dysfunction in Preeclampsia (FAER, 2013–2014) – Co-PI 

These projects center on improving postpartum hypertension care and reducing disparities: 

  • Implementing the STAMPP-HTN Bundle in a High-Risk Mississippi Population (NIH/NIGMS, 2020–2021) – Project Collaborator  
  • STAMPP-HTN Program (Women’s Board, 2019–2020) – PI  
  • Hypertension Innovator Awards (HHS, 2021, 2023 & 2024) – PI  
  • A Culturally Informed mHealth Program for Improving Self-Management of Postpartum Hypertension in African American Women (NIH, 2020–2021) – Co-PI 

These studies explore genetic and cardiovascular factors in pregnancy: 

  • Luteolin as a Therapeutic for Hypertension in Pregnancy (NIH/NHLBI, 2021–2023) – PI  
  • Identifying the Genetic Underpinnings of Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (ITM/Penn CTSA, 2015–2016) – PI/Site PI  
  • Improving Maternal and Child Health Through Prenatal Fatty Acid Supplementation Study (NIH/NICHD, 2015–2021) – Co-PI 

These projects investigate broader maternal-fetal health issues: 

  • Cellular and Molecular Systems Biology of Preterm Birth (March of Dimes, 2015–2020) – Co-PI  
  • Angiogenic Factors, Abnormal Placentation and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes (NIH/NICHD, 2014–2015) – PI  
  • Prevalence of Postpartum Hypertension Among Pregnant Women in Rural Haiti (University of Chicago Center for Global Health, 2016–2017) – PI 
  • PRESERVE-1 Feasability Study (rEVO Biologics, Inc., 2014-2015) - PI 
  • PRESERVE-1 Clinical Trial (rEVO Biologics, 2015–2017) – PI  
  • Development of Scholars in OB/GYN for the 21st Century (NIH/NICHD, 2008–2011) – Scholar  
  • Diversity and Community Partnership (DCP) Faculty Fellowship (HMS, 2011–2014) – PI  
  • Chronic Hypertension in Pregnancy Study (CHIPS) Study (CIHR, 2009–2014) – Site PI