McKenzie K. Jancsura
Dr. McKenzie Jancsura has a passion for improving maternal health outcomes. Her research investigates immunological pathways associated with preeclampsia and leverages behavioral and social interventions to modulate the immune response in pregnancy. Her research has investigated cytokines and DNA methylation across pregnancy to identify prediction tools for preeclampsia. She also explores how factors like diet, physical activity and stress impact the immune milieu in pregnancy as possible intervention targets to prevent pregnancy complications. Her work has been supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research, the Heilbrunn Nurse Scholars Award, and the nuMoM2b Heart Health Study. Through this program of research, Dr. Jancsura hopes to develop clinically useful tools to predict risk of preeclampsia and develop interventions to mitigate the risk to improve outcomes for mothers and babies. As a faculty member in the College of Nursing, she teaches in undergraduate programs and mentors students at all levels.
Dr. Jancsura’s clinical experiences include labor and delivery, postpartum, well-women care and primary care in community health settings. Her clinical experiences informed her program of research as she watched families struggle with the uncertainty surrounding a preeclampsia diagnosis and the lasting health impacts. Dr. Jancsura completed her postdoctoral training in nursing and genetics at the University of Pittsburgh, PhD in nursing at Case Western Reserve University, and BSN and BA in international studies and global health at the University of Iowa.
News
Faculty member recognized for impact and influence in the healthcare field
The Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP) named faculty member Jessica Fritter, DHSc, MACPR, ACRP-CP, FACRP, as part of its 2026 class of Fellows.
New research shows that overall, the prevalence of adverse and positive childhood experiences reported by parents of teenagers hasn’t changed substantially in the United States in recent years.
The findings suggest that interventions designed to boost positive family experiences and shield children from negative experiences may not be hitting the mark on a national scale, the study’s authors say.
Read the Ohio State News story
