Rashmi Rao MD Research Group

Research Group

Leadership

Rashmi Rao, MD

Clinical Associate Professor of UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine

Dr. Rashmi Rao's PubMed

Dr. Rao’s Research Team is focused on three primary areas

1. Rare diseases of pregnancy (for both mother and fetus)
2. Maternal mental health
3. Maternal malignancy

Dr. Rao’s Collaborations

• COMP
• Clinical Trials
• School of Engineering
• School of Public Health

Dr. Rao’s research productivity at UCLA contributes to the field of maternal-fetal medicine, ranging from pioneering work in high-risk pregnancy management to advancing understanding of new diagnostic tools and perinatal outcomes.

Rare diseases of pregnancy

Certain rare diseases can cause serious pregnancy complications and pregnant women with rare diseases often require tailored medical care to minimize risks to themselves and their babies. Standard practices may not be sufficient due to the unique nature of these diseases, necessitating multidisciplinary teams and individualized care. Our team’s approach to research on rare diseases during pregnancy seeks to understand the implications of rare diseases on pregnancy and to improve clinical expertise in management of the pregnant patient through development of clinical guidelines, all of which are essential for optimizing health for affected mothers and their children.

Ongoing study

NIH Funded Rare Diseases Clinical Research Network Consortium. 7705: Pregnancy in Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) Registry

Prenatal screening and diagnosis: Rare diseases may affect fetuses during pregnancy. The development and application of advanced genetic testing—such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), whole genome sequencing, and preimplantation genetic testing—enhance early diagnosis and offer opportunities to prevent or manage birth defects. This both improves pregnancy outcomes and builds scientific understanding of disease mechanisms. Our team’s approach to research on rare diseases seeks to improve diagnosis in utero and improve on patient centered care once a diagnosis has been made.

Rare Diseases of Pregnancy Publications

• Pregnancy in women with osteogenesis imperfecta: Pregnancy characteristics, maternal and neonatal outcomes
• Ultrasound screening: Status of markers and efficacy of screening for structural abnormalities
• Cell-free DNA screening in clinical practice: Abnormal autosomal aneuploidy and microdeletion results
• The value of first trimester screening in the era of cell-free DNA screening
• A new biometric: In utero growth curves for metacarpal and phalangeal lengths reveal an embryonic patterning ratio

• Cell-free DNA screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancy: A large multicenter cohort study

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Maternal Mental Health

Poor mental health during pregnancy is linked with higher risk of obstetric complications and increased suicide risk postpartum, which is a leading cause of death among postpartum individuals. Addressing maternal mental health supports stronger mother-infant bonding, healthier family relationships, and improved parenting, which have lifelong positive effects on children and families. Our research group studies maternal mental health to improve timely diagnosis, proper treatment, and holistic care that promotes the health and well-being of mothers, their children, and families from pregnancy onward. Mom's Clinic

Maternal Mental Health Publications

• Emergency department use among postpartum women with mental health disorders

• Levers of care in the health system: A qualitative study of experiences with perinatal mental health screening, referrals, and treatment among birthing people of color in California

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Maternal Malignancy

The study of maternal malignancy (cancer) during pregnancy is critically important because of its major implications for both maternal and fetal outcomes. Diagnosing and treating cancer during pregnancy is challenging; clinicians must balance the best interest of the mother with the safety of the fetus. The study of maternal cancer allows researchers to monitor the effects of both the malignancy and its treatments on children exposed in utero. Maternal cancer during pregnancy is uncommon, which limits the availability of robust clinical management guidelines. Our research team collaborates with oncology specialties at UCLA to develop safer practices, increase awareness among healthcare providers, and provide accurate counseling and support to affected families.

Maternal Malignancy Publications

• Biology, care, and outcomes of gestational breast cancers: A review

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Collaborations

Dr. Rao’s research team believes that collaboration in clinical medical research is essential to combine complementary knowledge and skills, accelerate discovery, improve patient-centered care, and foster innovation and efficiency in healthcare systems. Below are examples of collaborations with multi-disciplinary groups across the University of California, Los Angeles.

Infectious Disease

The COVID-19 Outcomes in Mother-Infant Pairs (COMP) study is a longitudinal cohort study of pregnant patients who had SARS CoV-2 during gestation and their infants.

Infectious Disease Publications

• The systemic inflammatory landscape of COVID-19 in pregnancy: Extensive serum proteomic profiling of mother-infant dyads with in utero SARS-CoV-2
• Longitudinal evaluation of antibody persistence in mother-infant dyads following SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy
• Association between severity of COVID-19 and social determinants of health with adverse pregnancy outcomes in a study of mother-infant pairs in Los Angeles, California

Clinical Trails in Obstetrics

• Randomized control trial of postpartum visits at 2 and 6 weeks
• Prophylactic unfractionated heparin in antepartum hospitalizations: A randomized controlled trial

School of Engineering

• Evaluation of respiratory emissions during labor and delivery: Potential implications for transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)