Primary Research Interests
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 on her collaborative 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:
- Use of angiogenic biomarkers for prediction of adverse outcomes among women with suspected preeclampsia.
- Systematic Treatment and Management of Postpartum Hypertension.
- Use of small molecules that inhibit sFlt1 as a potential treatment of preeclampsia.
- Preeclampsia and risk of cardiovascular disease.
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 (STAMPP-HTN). This program has won the HHS Hypertension Innovator Award (2021–2023) and the Bernard J. Tyson National Award for Excellence in Pursuit of Healthcare Equity (2023).
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.
Explore Dr. Rana's Impact
Dr. Rana is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist who provides care at Nebraska Medicine, including the Olson Center for Women’s Health. She is internationally recognized for her expertise in managing high-risk pregnancies, including those complicated by hypertension, kidney transplant, heart failure, obesity, and autoimmune conditions. Dr. Rana is a leading authority on the diagnosis and management of preeclampsia—a hypertensive disorder that poses serious risks to both mother and baby. Through systematic, evidence-based protocols, she works to improve maternal and fetal outcomes and reduce complications associated with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
- Dec. 2025–Nov. 2027.
ARPA-H (Karumanchi)
Role: Site-PI
Title: Validation of sFLT-1 whole blood lateral flow assay in women with suspected preeclampsia.
Goal: The goal of this study is to validate the point-of-care test designed to stratify women at high risk of developing severe features of preeclampsia (PE) by measuring sFLT-1 in whole blood during the 3rd trimester among women with suspected PE. - Dec. 2025–Nov. 2027.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Role: PI
Title: De-risking luteolin as a preclincal candidate for preeclampsia
Goal: Our overall aim of this proposal is to expand from efficacy demonstrations to a comprehensive preclinical development package. If successful, the project will deliver a candidate positioned for first-in-human studies, laying the groundwork for a breakthrough maternal therapeutic with the potential to avert thousands of maternal and neonatal deaths. - 01/01/2021-12/31/2026
NIH/NHLBI: 1R01HL148191-01A1 (Shahul)
Role: Co-I
Title: Aspirin to prevent cardiac dysfunction in preeclampsia
Goal: We pursue two specific aims to answer these questions. AIM 1 is a randomized trial to test whether aspirin improves cardiac function and decreases Activin A in women with preeclampsia. AIM 2 Identifies how increased plasma Activin A during pregnancy causes postpartum cardiac dysfunction and how aspirin prevents it. This project innovates methodologically and at the bench to dramatically advance our understanding of a major cause of morbidity and mortality in women globally. - 08/20/2022–07/31/2026
NIH/NHLBI: 1K01HL159032-01A1 (Palei)
Role: Mentor
Title: Platelet-mediated mechanisms of placental and systemic hypercoagulability in preeclampsia
Goal: The purpose of this study is to examine whether mtDNA acts as a driver of hypercoagulability in the placental and systemic circulation during PE, and whether this effect can be mitigated by DNase I treatment using the rat sFLT-1/sEng model of severe PE.
- 03/18/2024–03/17/2026
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Role: PI
Title: Luteolin road map
Goal: Our overall aim of this proposal is to de-risk luteolin by using qualified active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) with at least 95% purity to confirm its efficacy (produced by Wuxi); collect preclinical data (in vitro and in vivo) to determine minimum efficacious doses; and derive human pharmacokinetics (PK) from mouse, rat and dog PK studies. - 02/2024
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women's Health. Hypertension Innovator Award Phase II winner.
Role: PI
Project: Systematic Treatment and Management of Postpartum Hypertension. Role of remote patient monitoring in Controlling Blood Pressure and Eliminating Racial Disparities. - 01/2023–01/2024
Roche Diagnostics GMBH-USA: Study No. RD003630
Role: Site PI
Title: U.S. Sample Collection Study for Reference Range Determination of sFlt-1 and PIGF (Referent study)
Goal: This purpose of this study is to collected samples from normal patients through pregnancy to determine reference ranges for sFlt1 and PlGF. Data will be used for US FDA. - 06/21/2021–06/20/2023
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: Study No. 00001100
Role: Site-PI
Title: First Trimester Risk Assessment For Preeclampsia Study
Goal: Our primary goal is to demonstrate that >85% of patients who subsequently develop early-onset preeclampsia (<34 weeks) and >65% of patients who develop preterm preeclampsia (<37 weeks) will have PE risk ratio >1:100 based on risk assessment by biomarkers in first trimester. - 05/12/2021–05/11/2024
Roche Diagnostics GMBH-USA: Study No. RD005559
Role: Site PI
Title: The Impact of the Roche Elecsys sFlt-1/PIGF ratio on clinical decision making in suspected PreEclampsia (TIME PE)
Goal: This study will evaluate clinical management and pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women exhibiting signs and symptoms of preeclampsia. The main goal is to investigate whether sFlt-1/PlGF can accurately rule-out PE within one week and its impact on clinical decision-making. - 09/20/2021–08/31/2023
NIH/NHLBI: 1R56HL157579-01
Role: PI
Title: Luteolin as a therapeutic for hypertension in pregnancy
Goal: The proposed experiments will identify mechanisms by which luteolin interferes with the pathophysiological pathways linking placental ischemia with maternal cardiovascular dysfunction, while generating preclinical data to support the development of luteolin as a therapy for PE. - 02/2023
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office on Women’s Health. Hypertension Innovator Award Phase II winner.
Role: PI
Project: Systematic Treatment and Management of Postpartum Hypertension.
Publications for Sarosh Rana, MD, MPH
Dr. Rana's notable publications:
- Patel E, Bisson C, Suresh S, Mueller A, Duncan C, Shahul S, Lengyel E, Rana S. Systematic treatment and management of postpartum hypertension using remote patient monitoring. Pregnancy Hypertens. 2025 Mar;39:101180. doi: 10.1016/j.preghy.2024.101180. Epub 2024 Dec 21. PMID: 39709789.
- Burns LP, Potchileev S, Mueller A, Azzi M, Premkumar A, Peterson J, Rausch A, Gonzalez M, Silasi M, Karumanchi SA, Thadhani R, Rana S. Real-world evidence for the utility of serum soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1/placental growth factor test for routine clinical evaluation of hospitalized women with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2025 Apr;232(4):385.e1-385.e21. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.07.015. Epub 2024 Jul 17. PMID: 39029547.
- Eddy AC, Chiang CY, Rajakumar A, Spradley FT, Dauer P, Granger JP, Rana S. Bioflavonoid luteolin prevents sFlt-1 release via HIF-1α inhibition in cultured human placenta. FASEB J. 2023 Aug;37(8):e23078. doi: 10.1096/fj.202300611R. PMID: 37405762; PMCID: PMC10348062.
- Thadhani R, Lemoine E, Rana S, Costantine MM, Calsavara VF, Boggess K, Wylie BJ, Moore Simas TA, Louis JM, Espinoza J, Gaw SL, Murtha A, Wiegand S, Gollin Y, Singh D, Silver RM, Durie DE, Panda B, Norwitz ER, Burd I, Plunkett B, Scott RK, Gaden A, Bautista M, Chang Y, Diniz MA, Karumanchi SA, Kilpatrick S. Circulating Angiogenic Factor Levels in Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy. NEJM Evid. 2022 Dec;1(12):EVIDoa2200161. doi: 10.1056/EVIDoa2200161. Epub 2022 Nov 9. PMID: 38319832.
- Patten IS, Rana S, Shahul S, Rowe GC, Jang C, Liu L, Hacker MR, Rhee JS, Mitchell J, Mahmood F, Hess P, Farrell C, Koulisis N, Khankin EV, Burke SD, Tudorache I, Bauersachs J, del Monte F, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Karumanchi SA, Arany Z. Cardiac angiogenic imbalance leads to peripartum cardiomyopathy. Nature. 2012 May 9;485(7398):333-8. doi: 10.1038/nature11040. PMID: 22596155; PMCID: PMC3356917.
- Rana S, Powe CE, Salahuddin S, Verlohren S, Perschel FH, Levine RJ, Lim KH, Wenger JB, Thadhani R, Karumanchi SA. Angiogenic factors and the risk of adverse outcomes in women with suspected preeclampsia. Circulation. 2012 Feb 21;125(7):911-9. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.111.054361. Epub 2012 Jan 18. PMID: 22261192; PMCID: PMC3319742.
Past Initiatives
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