We’ve named our campaign “More Than Morning Sickness” to raise awareness around the grave health consequences of severe nausea and vomiting during pregnancy, specifically in its most dangerous form, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG). The colloquial term “morning sickness” downplays the potential severity of the condition and fails to distinguish between mild but disruptive first-trimester nausea, more severe nausea that persists throughout pregnancy, and the debilitating HG.

Dr. Marlena Fejzo cracked the code on understanding nausea and vomiting during pregnancy. In a groundbreaking 2023 Nature paper, her discovery of the gene that codes for the hormone GDF15 pointed to a genetic basis for severe morning sickness.

Her work directly points to the possibility that an existing generic drug, metformin, known to influence levels of the GDF15 hormone, works as a preventive therapy. However, in the year since, she has been unable to secure funding for the clinical trial. Meeting our $1.375m fundraising goal will allow her essential work to go forward.

While medications can address some symptoms, they are ineffective for a high percentage of women with HG, or have side effects that are not tolerable. Treatment is often provided only when a patient’s condition has deteriorated to the extent of requiring IV fluids or supplemental nutrition. Better treatment is urgently needed. 

Since Dr. Fejzo aims to determine whether metformin – an existing generic drug – has the greatest potential as a preventative therapy, pharmaceutical companies have no profit motive to invest.

As the only full-time HG researcher in the country, Dr. Fejzo’s area of focus is so underrepresented, grant review boards do not have the expertise to review her applications, and she has been denied seven different grants. While she does have one outstanding grant application to the NIH, the timeline for grant review is extremely slow and, as of this site’s publication in early 2025, the status of NIH grant review in general is deeply uncertain. Where public and private routes of funding have failed, crowdfunding and philanthropy can step in! 

Likely yes. Dr. Fejzo’s research focuses on HG since these are the patients in most dire need of treatment and/or preventative care. However, her work sheds light on the mechanism of pregnancy nausea and vomiting overall.

The HER Foundation (Hyperemesis Education and Research) has tremendous resources for HG patients, their friends and family, and clinicians, as well as online support networks, health professional referrals, and direct consultations. If you are currently struggling with HG and feel you need further support, this is the best place to start. 

GDF15 linked to maternal risk of nausea and vomiting during pregnancy (Nature)

 Hyperemesis gravidarum theories dispelled by recent research: a paradigm change for better care and outcomes (Trends in Molecular Medicine)

Yes. Donations to the Marlena Fejzo Research Fund run through her employer, the University of Southern California (USC), a 501(c)(3) organization. 

Yes. Make check payable to "University of Southern California." In the memo line, note “KSOM Dr. Fejzo”

Mail to:

USC Advancement Gift Services

1150 South Olive St, 25th Floor

Los Angeles, CA 90015

Yes. Donor-advised funds should note the University of Southern California Tax ID (95-1642394). Email Karen Thomas (Karen.Thomas@med.usc.edu) with the name of your DAF and amount of contribution to confirm receipt. To discuss stock donations or other mechanisms, contact Karen Thomas directly.  (Mention Dr. Fejzo in the subject line; Karen will get the funds where they need to go!)

In Phase One of this project, our goal is to raise $1,375,000. This will enable Dr. Fejzo to go forward with her clinical trial to test whether the drug metformin—which is approved to treat Type 2 diabetes but is used off-label for numerous purposes and has been shown to raise GDF15 levels—works as a preventive therapy. 

This goal includes $750,000 for the clinical trial itself; an additional budget for tracking the outcome of children born to mothers with HG; collecting comprehensive data on demographics; and funding a graduate student to work alongside Dr. Fejzo to advance the research as quickly as possible.

We have no formal affiliation with USC. We started “More Than Morning Sickness” as deeply committed outsiders raising funds for the most promising research into HG. Right now, the best path forward is to support Dr. Marlena Fejzo’s research fund in order to get her clinical trial off the ground. As such, donations go through USC, where she is a professor.

However, this is not a campaign of the university and thus does not speak for the university itself.

Write to us at hello@morethanmorningsickness.com and we will get you the information you need.