Allostatic Load and the DNA Methylome in Pregnancy and Heart Health
Official title: Allostatic Load and the DNA Methylome: Implications for Cardiovascular Health in Pregnancy and Beyond
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11387740 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how chronic stress during and after pregnancy may shape DNA and heart health for mothers, with potential to improve understanding of cardiovascular risk after pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,122 |
| NIH project number | 5R00NR020215-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11387740 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Women with prior hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and their subsequent follow-up through the HHS1/HHS2 study cohorts who have biospecimens or DNA methylation data.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a history of HDP or those not contributing data/biospecimens for the specified cohorts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use existing data and blood samples from women who had HDP and from long-term follow-up studies to map how stress-related wear and tear relates to DNA methylation and later cardiovascular outcomes. They will track allostatic load trajectories across time and examine how these patterns associate with post-pregnancy hypertension and vascular changes. The study builds on prior cohorts to connect biological aging markers with heart health after pregnancy, using DNA methylation data and imaging measures. The findings could illuminate biological pathways linking pregnancy complications to later cardiovascular risk and identify potential biomarkers for early intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify early biological indicators of cardiovascular risk after pregnancy and point toward targets for prevention.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked psychosocial stress to CVD after HDP; this project advances understanding by integrating DNA methylation and allostatic load trajectories.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ray, Mitali — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Ray, Mitali
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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.