Dr. Victor K. Han

Pregnancy and childbirth are critical periods for both women and infants. The condition of an infant’s health at birth is critical for their survival and lifelong health. The advances of modern medicine in developed countries have drastically reduced maternal mortality rates associated with childbirth. However, the risk is still high for other complications such as pre-eclampsia, early birth, and low birth weight.

Leading the quest to improve fetal and maternal health is Dr. Victor Han, researcher and professor in the Schulich School of Medicine at The University of Western Ontario and Scientific Director of the Child Health Research Institute. The goal of Han’s research is to diagnose early stages of pre-eclampsia, in order to reduce the number of women suffering from this risk, and to prevent the problems of low birth rates in babies. Using genome wide screening, Han hopes this new technology will help predict which pregnant women are at risk, and develop new preventative treatments to minimize risk for mothers and their babies.

Han is recognized nationally and internationally for his research on pre-eclampsia, an abnormal state of pregnancy characterized by hypertension or elevated blood pressure and fluid retention. It is a dangerous condition affecting seven per cent of all pregnancies and can cause strokes. Thirty per cent of mothers with pre-eclampsia have problems, as the fetus does not grow normally. Han believes the cause of the problem originates in the placenta.

The abnormal development of the placenta might be linked to expression of genes or the release of undefined factors in the mother’s circulatory system. These factors also cause restriction of energy fuel the fetus needs to grow normally and is a cause of low birth weight. The reason babies are born with low birth weight is due to "low fuel conditions," says Han. "In order for a fetus to survive it needs essential fuels that the mother provides."

These fuels are the building blocks a fetus uses to create energy to make its heart beat, develop cell molecules and to grow. When restrictions of these essential fuels are present, the fetus must then delegate the energy to essential mechanisms to live. Growth is non-essential to survive. Other fuel restrictions can alter the fetus’ vital organs. Fetal programming switches off vital organs. This could be temporary in order to collect more fuels or may be permanent. Such things can develop into adult diseases such as stroke or diabetes. The series of complex mechanics that stops fetal growth is the focus of Han and his lab’s research.

Han is the Canada Research Chair in Perinatal Research, Chair of the Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and a professor of molecular biology in the Departments of Paediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology and Biochemistry at Western. He is also a scientist at Lawson Health Research Institute and throughout his hectic schedule he still finds time to work in the Intensive Care Unit at London Health Sciences Centre caring for infants who suffer from low birth weight.

For further information, please contact Dr. Victor K. Han using the Email contact form or by phone at 519 646-6100 ext 64798