Aki Ushiki, PhD, assistant professor in the Department of Genetics at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, has been awarded a 2026 Peter J. Pappas Research Grant from the Preeclampsia Foundation. The award provides $99,997 in research funding to support innovative studies aimed at improving outcomes for pregnant individuals and babies affected by preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Dr. Ushiki received the grant for her project, “Beyond the Exome: Functional Dissection of FLT1 Regulatory Variants in Preeclampsia,” which seeks to uncover how non-coding genetic variants influence gene regulation in placental development and contribute to the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. By identifying enhancer-mediated regulatory mechanisms, her work has the potential to reveal new therapeutic targets for this serious pregnancy complication.
Dr. Ushiki earned her PhD in genetics from the University of Tsukuba in Japan and completed postdoctoral training at the University of California, San Francisco, where she focused on functional genomics and developmental gene regulation. She is also a recipient of an NIH K99/R00 Pathway to Independence Award. Her laboratory investigates how genetic variation outside of protein-coding regions shapes gene expression programs critical for placental function and pregnancy health.
The Peter J. Pappas Research Grant program, named in memory of Peter Joseph Pappas, supports high-impact research with the long-term goal of eliminating preterm birth as an intervention for severe preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and related disorders. The Preeclampsia Foundation awards up to $200,000 annually through the program based on recommendations from its Scientific Advisory Council.
Dr. Ushiki was one of two investigators selected nationwide for the 2026 award cycle, demonstrating the significance and promise of her research. Her work advances the Department of Genetics’ mission to translate fundamental discoveries in human genetics into improved health outcomes.