Researchers
Research group leaders

Lina Bergman
MD, Specialist Obsterics and Gynecology, Associate Professor
Research:
Prinicipal investigator for neurological complications in PROVE, Principal investigator for GO-PROVE, Co-investigator for IMPACT
Lina is a researcher and clinician, focusing on preeclampsia and organ complications as well as prediction of disease. She is working at Gothenburg University but also affiliated to Uppsala University and Stellenbosch University.

Catherine Cluver
MD, Subspecialist Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Associate Professor
Research:
Principal investigator for PROVE, Principal investigator for PI trials
Catherine is a researcher and clinician, working as a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in Cape Town and leading clinical trials for preeclampsia research at Tygerberg Hospital, Stellenbosch University. She is also affiliated researcher at Mercy Perinatal, Melbourne.
Postdocs

Owen Herrock
PhD, Postdoc
Research:
Inflammation and hypertension in preeclampisa
Owen is a postdoctoral fellow with Lina Bergman at the University of Gothenburg.

Sanketa Raut
PhD, Postdoc
Research:
Kidney injury/repair in preeclampsia
Sanketa is a postdoctoral researcher with Lina Bergman at the University of Gothenburg.

Teelkien van Veen
MD, PhD
Research:
Co-investigator in PROVE, GO PROVE and UPMOST, focusing on cerebral autoregulation in preeclampsia
Co-investigator in PROVE, GO PROVE and UPMOST, focusing on cerebral autoregulation in preeclampsia
PhD students

Ellen Kupka
MD, PhD student

Stefan Botha
PhD student
Stefan is currently studying towards a joint PhD, under the Berlin University Alliance, through the University of Melbourne and Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Niclas Carlberg
MD, PhD student
Niclas Carlberg is an anesthetist with a special interest in obstetric anesthesia, working at Sahlgrenska University Hospital Östra in Gothenburg. He is also a PhD-student, investigating dynamic cerebral autoregulation and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia.

Valentina Bucher
PhD student
Valentina is a PhD candidate with Lina Bergman at the University of Gothenburg.

Karusha Knipe
Bsc Biochemistry and physiology, MD, Specialist Obstetrician Gynaecologist, Phd candidate
Research:
Cerebral autoregulation in pre-eclampsia
Karusha is a consultant obstetrician gynaecologist in clinical practice at Tygerberg Hospital a large tertiary centre based in Cape Town, as well as a senior lecturer at Stellenbosch University.

Erica Wesslén
MD, PhD applicant

Nicole Wallin
PhD applicant
Nicole holds a medical degree from the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. She has been involved in the GO-PROVE study since her summer internship in 2021 and continued to work part-time with the study.

Malin Andersson
MD
Research:
PhD student in GO-PROVE
Malin is a senior consultant in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at Östra sjukhuset/ Sahlgrenska University Hospital Gothenburg, Sweden.
Research coordinators

Pia Gudmundsson
PhD
Pia Gudmundsson has a PhD in psychiatric epidemiology with focus on depression in women.
Research assistants
South Africa

Jacqui Visser
Reserearch Nurse & Midwife
Jacqui obtained is a Research Nurse and Midwife
Research assistants
Sweden

Maria MacGregor
BBA, MMedSc
Research:
Research Assistant for GO-PROVE
Maria is a graduate student of the University of Gothenburg, where she earned a Master of Medical Science degree in Global Health.

Felicia Andersson
Research Assistant

Veronika Golubinskaya
PhD
Statistician

Henrik Imberg
PhD (Applied Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics)
Henrik Imberg is a senior biostatistician and statistical consultant at Statistiska Konsultgruppen Sweden AB, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Mercy Perinatal

Tu’uhevaha Kaitu’u-Lino
BBiomedSci (hons), PhD. Associate Professor at the University of Melbourne
Research:
Laboratory studies to identify new biomarkers for Preeclampsia and to study the pathogenesis of the disease
Tu’uhevaha is head of the Diagnostics Discovery and Reverse Translation Group at the University of Melbourne and Mercy Perinatal.

Roxanne Hastie
BiomedSc, BSc (Hons), M Epi, PhD, Researcher at Mercy Perinatal and Affiliated Researcher at Uppsala University
Research:
Laboratory based studies and epidemiological studies, Principal investigator for ICE and co-investigator for PROVE
Roxanne is a research scientist dual skilled in complex laboratory and epidemiology research. Roxanne’s research aims to combine these streams to undertake translational research that reduces the burden of major pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia. Roxanne works at the University of Melbourne and Mercy Perinatal and holds an affiliated research position with Uppsala University.
Collaborating researchers
PROVE and GO PROVE

Verena Sengpiel
MD, Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology, Associate Professor
Research:
Co-investigator for GoProve
Verena works as clinician at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and researcher at Gothenburg University.

Anna-Karin Wikström
MD, Specialist Obstetrics and Gynecology, Professor
Research:
Prinicpal investigator for IMPACT, principal investigator for UPMOST, epidemiologist
Anna-Karin is a professor at Uppsala University. She works mainly with preeclampsia research in the fields of epidemiology and observational clinical studies.

Susanne Hesselman
MD, PhD, Senior Consultant Ob/Gyn Falun Hospital, Sweden
Research:
Epidemiological studies of preeclampsia and labour, affiliated researcher at Uppsala University
Susanne’s research focuses on epidemiological studies of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the Swedish national and quality registers.

Isabella Björkman-Burtscher
MD, Professor in Neuroradiology
Research:
Co-investigator for GO PROVE
Isabella is a professor in Neuroradiology at Sahlgrenska Academy and in charge for the MR protocol in GO PROVE/UPMOST together with Johan Wikström.

Eduard Langenegger
MD, PhD. Subspecialist in Maternal Fetal-Medicine and Obstetric Critical Care
Research:
Co-investigator for Prove
Eduard is a clinician and researcher. He established an obstetric critical care unit (OOCU) at Tygerberg Hospital, University of Stellenbosch.

Helen Elden
Professor
Research:
Co-investigator for GO PROVE
Helen Elden is a full professor in reproductive and perinatal health and a senior consultant university midwife at the institute of health and caring sciences and the department of obstetrics and gynecology, The Sahlgrenska academy, University of Gothenburg, Sahlgrenska university hospital, Gothenburg.

Karolina Lindén
RNRM, PhD, Associate Professor
Karolina Lindén is a midwife (RNRM), and an associate professor in reproductive and perinatal health, at University of Gothenburg, Sweden.

Pauli van Heerden
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Pauli van Heerden is a Stellenbosch University-trained Obstetrician and Gynaecologist and is currently pursuing a sub-specialisation in Maternal-Fetal Medicine in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Tygerberg Hospital.

David Hall
Professor
David Hall is Professor and Principal Specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital.

Ronney Panerai
Professor
Research:
Participates in the studies of cerebral autoregulation in PROVE, GO PROVE and UPMOST
Professor Panerai is an expert in the field of cerebral autoregulation and participates in the studies of cerebral autoregulation in PROVE, GO PROVE and UPMOST
Collaborating researchers
Pharamacokinetics

Helmuth Reuter
Professor, Head of Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Stellenbosch University
Research:
Pharmacokinetics studies for preeclampsia treatment
Helmuth Reuter is a professor of internal medicine and clinical pharmacology, currently heading the Division of Clinical Pharmacology (at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences) at Stellenbosch University.

Eric Decloedt
Associate Professor, Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Stellenbosch University
Research:
Co-investigator for Preeclampsia Intervention trials, Pharmacokinetics studies for preeclampsia treatment
Eric Decloedt is an associate professor and a medical specialist in clinical pharmacology.
Collaborating researchers
Pre-clinical studies

Ralf Dechend
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist
Ralf is a specialist in internal medicine since 2001 and cardiology and is currently working as a professor of internal medicine at HELIOS Clinic Berlin Buch and the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité and Max-Delbrueck Center for Molecular Medicine in Berlin.

Olivia Nonn
MD, PhD
Olivia Nonn received both her MD and PhD degrees at the Medical University of Graz (Austria), working with placentology experts Prof. Berthold Huppertz and Prof. Martin Gauster.

Carlos Escudero Orozco
MD, PhD (Biomedical Sciences), Full-professor Universidad del Bio Bio
Research:
In vitro studies of the vasculature in preeclampsia with material from PROVE, GO PROVE and UPMOST focusing on brain endothelial cells
Carlos Escudero is a vascular physiologist. His current area of interest is to understand the potential negative consequences of preeclampsia in the brain vascular formation and the integrity of the blood-brain barrier in mother and babies exposed to preeclampsia.

Susanne Lager
MSc, PhD, Associate Professor
Research:
Co-investigator for UPMOST
Susanne Lager is a Senior Lecture in laboratory science at the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health, Uppsala University, Sweden.