Mrinalini Balki

Research Synopsis

The main focus of Dr. Balki’s lab has been to further the understanding of the pharmacotherapy of postpartum hemorrhage, and to establish the significance of the oxytocin-induced desensitization phenomenon in relation to the clinical problem. Oxytocin-induced desensitization occurs after prolonged administration of oxytocin during labor and impairs the contractility of the uterus after delivery resulting in excessive postpartum bleeding. Dr. Balki & her group have developed and validated a “desensitization model” to study the effect of various medications on human myometrial contractility. Their effort is to find effective pharmacological therapies for improving myometrial contractility in the desensitized muscle and to explore the strategies to minimize the desensitization phenomenon. They have also expanded their research to investigate myometrial contractility patterns in high-risk conditions such as advanced maternal age, morbid obesity, and preeclampsia. They hope their studies will form a basis for future modifications in oxytocin augmentation regimens and pharmacotherapy for control of uterine atony and postpartum hemorrhage in at-risk patient populations.