USC geneticist Marlena Fejzo, PhD, recognized as one of Forbes’ 50 over 50 in Innovation

USC Geneticist Marlena Fejzo, PhD, has been named to Forbes’ 50 over 50 groundbreaking women in innovation. The clinical assistant professor of population and public health sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, is recognized for her breakthrough findings revealing the gene responsible for pregnancy sickness, including its extreme form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). “This feature has been very exciting as it serves as another opportunity to spread the word about this understudied disease,” she says. “Women who experience HG are really desperate for help and there just hasn’t been much information to support them out there.”

Last month, Fejzo also received the 2024 Victoria J. Mastrobuono Award in Women’s Health from NOW Foundation for her distinguished career focused on researching health challenges most often experienced by women. One significant challenge Fejzo cites is funding to advance this research. “HG is still not on the map, and we are trying to make a difference for the way people are treated,” she expresses. She hopes that her recognition will support this next chapter of her work which involves development of new treatments and better care for patients.

HG is the leading cause of hospitalization in the first half of pregnancy and the second leading cause of hospitalization overall after preterm birth. “This year, with the facilitation of linking electronic health records of the mother to the child, several research studies have shown there are long-term adverse outcomes for both mother and child—so really more attention needs to be focused on addressing this disease,” she maintains.

Fejzo serves as Chief Scientific Officer for Harmonia Healthcare, a health platform committed to closing the healthcare gender gap and revolutionizing female healthcare. Since being named as one of Time magazine’s 2024 ‘Women of the Year’ in March, Fejzo helped the company open its first center in New Jersey in May 2024. “The vision is to provide appropriate treatment for people who are suffering from HG. Currently, patients go to the emergency room to receive fluids when they are severely dehydrated and experiencing under-nutrition. Sometimes, the doctors are not well trained in HG and more often than not, the patients are sent home, only to return,” she shares. “Our treatment centers have physicians whose expertise is treating patients with HG.”

Fejzo’s efforts, together with her colleague Sir Stephen O’Rahilly, University of Cambridge, have earned them a spot as 2024 finalists by the Falling Walls Foundation. This organization highlights innovative scientific advancements and impactful initiatives across various fields, reaffirming how Fejzo’s work is augmenting resources in women’s health.

With numerous accolades, Fejzo shares that she is still most proud of her discovery. “Now that we have an understanding that this emetogenic hormone produced by the placenta is the main cause of HG, we can focus on developing treatments—and we can immediately give people who are suffering from HG, knowledge and an understanding that this is not their fault, and they shouldn’t be blamed for this condition,” she affirms. “Years ago, my doctor told me I was exaggerating my symptoms for attention, and this still happens. Today, we are armed with information to refute these unfortunate beliefs and will continue to pursue funding to address the needs of this overlooked population.