Researcher spotlight: Dr Chrissie Yu is advancing research to improve maternal health
Researcher spotlight: Dr Chrissie Yu is advancing research to improve maternal health
10 August 2026
Working in partnership with clinicians and researchers across the five hospitals within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, Imperial Health Charity funds research that translates scientific discoveries into practical improvements in patient care.
Among the researchers leading this work is Dr Chrissie Yu, Consultant Obstetrician and Sub-specialist in foetal-maternal Medicine at St Mary's Hospital. Dr Yu’s research focuses on improving outcomes for women through earlier diagnosis, preventative care, and evidence-based treatment.
Dr Yu's work spans maternal medicine, prenatal diagnosis, and the early detection of pregnancy complications, with the aim of helping women receive safer, more personalised care throughout pregnancy.
"Research gives us the opportunity to answer some of the most important questions in maternity care”, says Dr Yu. "By improving our understanding of pregnancy complications and developing better ways to identify women at risk, we can make a real difference to outcomes for mothers and babies."
Addressing key challenges in pregnancy care
With support from Imperial Health Charity, Dr Yu and her team are delivering two research projects to address significant challenges in maternal health.
In the first project, studies will investigate whether a simple, non-invasive light-based test can identify women at risk of developing pre-eclampsia earlier in pregnancy. Pre-eclampsia is a serious condition caused by high blood pressure that can have life-threatening consequences for both mother and baby if left untreated.
The research will explore whether wearable technology that measures blood flow through the skin using a light source can provide an affordable and accessible way of identifying pregnant women who may benefit from closer monitoring and earlier intervention. If successful, the technology could offer a practical approach for use in hospitals, community settings and potentially even at home.
In the second project, studies will examine the impact of weight-loss medications on pregnancy outcomes.
Medicines used to treat obesity and Type 2 diabetes, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, are becoming increasingly common among women of childbearing age. However, there is currently limited evidence about how exposure to these medications, shortly before or during early pregnancy, can affect mothers and babies.
By studying pregnancy and birth outcomes, the two research studies aim to generate evidence that will help clinicians provide clearer advice to women and contribute to future clinical guidance.
"These are questions that women and healthcare professionals are increasingly asking," Dr Yu explains. "We need high-quality evidence to help us understand how these medications can affect pregnancy so that women can receive clear, informed advice about their use at what is often a very anxious time."
Turning research into better care
As both a clinician and researcher, Dr Yu sees first-hand how research can improve patient care.
"Every research study has the potential to improve clinical practice," she says. "Whether it's identifying complications earlier or helping women make informed decisions about their care, our goal is always to improve outcomes for patients."
Support from Imperial Health Charity enables researchers to develop new ideas, build specialist research teams, and generate the evidence needed to improve healthcare both within Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust and across the NHS.
By investing in research today, Imperial Health Charity is helping to shape the future of maternity care, to ensure that more women and babies benefit from earlier diagnosis, better treatments, and improved outcomes.
Supporting the future of maternal health research
Charitable support plays a vital role in making research like this possible. Funding helps researchers like Dr Yu develop innovative ideas, recruit specialist teams and carry out studies that have the potential to transform patient care.
Every donation to Imperial Health Charity helps accelerate research that can improve outcomes for women and babies at St Mary's Hospital and beyond, to ensure that promising discoveries can become tomorrow's standard of care.
Donate todayIf you would like to learn more about Dr Chrissie Yu and her research, or to have an initial discussion, please contact:
Susan Quach
Senior Philanthropy Manager
susan.quach@imperialcharity.org.uk
020 3006 5761
