On 8 October 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) presented an international roadmap in Utrecht aimed at reducing severe complications and deaths caused by high blood pressure during pregnancy. The Global Roadmap for Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy 2026–2035 and Beyond will be launched during the SMFM Global Congress, bringing together international experts in maternal healthcare and scientific research. Various UMC Utrecht researchers were involved in the development process and continue to contribute to the Roadmap’s ambitions through their research, education and impact.
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, including pre-eclampsia and eclampsia, are a leading cause of severe health complications and deaths among mothers and newborns worldwide. These conditions increase the risk of preterm birth, stillbirth and long-term cardiovascular problems in women. The impact is particularly significant in low- and middle-income countries, partly due to limited access to high-quality healthcare.
The new roadmap has been developed by WHO in collaboration with international researchers, healthcare professionals, patient organizations and other stakeholders. Joyce Browne, Associate Professor of Global Health at UMC Utrecht, was involved in the development of the international WHO roadmap for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. As a member of the scientific committee of the Global Pre-eclampsia Summit in Rwanda, she led the workstream on advocacy, political engagement and accountability and closely collaborated with UMC Utrecht Global Health PhD alumni Abdulaziz Hussen and Salisu Ishaku and various patient organizations. The summit laid the foundation for the roadmap.
The roadmap focuses on five strategic areas:
The roadmap brings together scientific, policy and financial priorities. Through this shared framework, the organisations involved aim to strengthen collaboration over the coming years to improve maternal healthcare, with particular attention to countries where health risks are greatest.
The launch at the SMFM Global Congress in Utrecht marks the beginning of a new phase. The challenge now is to translate international commitments into concrete actions that support early detection, more effective treatment and the prevention of avoidable deaths and health complications among mothers and their children.
UMC Utrecht contributes to the ambitions of the WHO Roadmap through research focused on improving the prediction, prevention and treatment of pre-eclampsia. Internationally, UMC Utrecht works closely with partners in low- and middle-income countries to develop and implement accessible solutions for better maternal healthcare.
In Ghana, the SPOT study focuses on improving the quality of pre-eclampsia care through research on risk prediction, the genetic origins of preeclampsia, clinical decision-making, risk communication and digital tools, including a pre-eclampsia app designed to support healthcare professionals and pregnant women. The SPOT study team also collaborates with University of Cape Coast’s sonographer Joseph Arkorful in his PhD research on the predictive potential of the eye artery doppler measurement for preeclampsia. In Tanzania, the PRESHA study aims to improve the prediction, prevention and management of pre-eclampsia through research on biomarkers, locally developed clinical guidelines and improvements in quality of care.
Another example is the BP@Home project in Ghana, involving Kitty Bloemenkamp, Mireille Bekker, Martine Depmann, Joyce Browne and colleagues from Ghana and the United States, which investigates home blood pressure monitoring during pregnancy to improve early detection and management of hypertension. Complementing these international initiatives, translational research led by Titia Lely focuses on understanding the underlying biological mechanisms of pre-eclampsia and translating scientific discoveries into improved diagnosis and treatment. Together, these initiatives connect scientific discovery with practical solutions and international collaboration, contributing to the Roadmap’s goal of reducing preventable complications and deaths among mothers and newborns worldwide.
