Noha M. Shawky (Elsayed), PhD

Assistant Professor
(601) 984-1500

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Current research

My laboratory is interested in studying and identifying the mechanisms behind the sex differences in the cardiovascular consequences of maternal hyperandrogenemia on offspring as adults and when they age. Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is the most common endocrine disorder in reproductive-age women and is the major cause of hyperandrogenemia in women. The majority of PCOS women in the US are obese. In addition, PCOS women are at increased risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Hyperandrogenemic PCOS women remain hyperandrogenemic during pregnancy and lactation. It is not clear whether offspring born under conditions of maternal hyperandrogenemia (as seen in maternal PCOS) are at risk of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases or not. Identifying and understanding those risks could lead to potential earlier intervention for offspring born to hyperandrogenemic females. Our studies utilize offspring born to a rat model that mimics the main features of PCOS (e.g. obesity, hypertension, hyperandrogenemia, and insulin resistance). My laboratory is currently funded by a Career Development Award from the American Heart Association, and I am also a project leader in the Mississippi Center of Excellence in Perinatal Research COBRE grant.