3D lab‑grown fetal‑maternal tissue model to find medicines that prevent preterm birth
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-11184515 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a 3D lab‑grown model of the tissues between mother and baby to test medicines that might lower the chance of preterm birth for pregnant people.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $233,262 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3TR004117-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11184515 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who are pregnant or who have a history of preterm birth related to infection or inflammation are the ultimate group that could benefit, although this project itself is laboratory‑based and does not enroll patients.
✕Less likely to help
Those whose preterm births are due to mechanical, genetic, or non‑inflammatory causes, or who need immediate clinical treatment, will not directly benefit from this preclinical lab work.
What this research studies
This project will create a 3D bioprinted model of the feto‑maternal interface using human cells to mimic the tissue where inflammation can trigger preterm birth. The model will be built in a 96‑well format so many drugs can be screened quickly for how they move through tissue, are metabolized, and affect inflammation. Researchers will expose the model to inflammatory triggers and measure whether candidate anti‑inflammatory drugs reduce responses linked to early labor. Because the system uses human cells and a high‑throughput setup, it aims to speed identification of safer medicines for use in pregnancy without directly testing drugs in pregnant people at this stage.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could speed discovery of anti‑inflammatory drugs that safely reduce the risk of preterm birth.
How similar studies have gone: Prior preclinical studies and smaller tissue‑chip models have shown promise that reducing inflammation can delay preterm birth in models, but using high‑throughput 3D human feto‑maternal models to screen large drug libraries is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
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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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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3-D bioprinted feto-maternal tissue model to test pregnancy drugs
A high-throughput 3D tissue model of the feto-maternal interface is being built to screen drugs for safety and effectiveness in pregnancy.
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Creating a 3D model of the feto-maternal interface to test drugs that may prevent preterm birth
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IL-9 Signaling and Immune-Driven Preterm Birth
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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.