3-D bioprinted feto-maternal tissue model to test pregnancy drugs
Official title: 3-D biofabricated feto-maternal interface tissue model to determine drug efficacy during pregnancy to reduce the risk of preterm birth
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11382114 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A high-throughput 3D tissue model of the feto-maternal interface is being built to screen drugs for safety and effectiveness in pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $234,524 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3TR004117-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382114 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients at risk for preterm birth whose biological material can be used to create the tissue models (e.g., donated placental or related maternal-fetal tissue samples) for research.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to or permission for tissue donation or participation in related studies may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates advanced 3D tissue chips using human cells to mimic the feto-maternal interface during pregnancy. The goal is to screen large libraries of drugs quickly for their ability to reduce inflammation and potentially prevent spontaneous preterm birth, while checking for safety signals. By integrating a 96-well format, researchers can test many compounds in parallel and study how they move and act in this tissue context. The work aims to improve drug development for PTB by bridging gaps between basic science models and real-world pregnancy biology.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could speed up the identification of safe and effective anti-inflammatory therapies for preventing preterm birth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous tissue-chip models have shown that microphysiological systems can replicate human tissue responses and support drug testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Menon, Ramkumar — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Menon, Ramkumar
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.