Birth Defects Prevention: How Pregnancy Exposures Shape Birth Outcomes (BD STEPS) for Massachusetts families
Official title: Massachusetts Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention: Birth Defects Study To Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD STEPS Core and Stillbirth)
Funded at Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health · NIH-11395055 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Massachusetts team is studying how pregnancy exposures may influence birth defects to help families reduce risk in future pregnancies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,250 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DD001300-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395055 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include women who are planning pregnancy or are currently pregnant and may have exposure to medications or procedures being studied, as well as their infants for data collection.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals whose exposures are not linked to the studied birth defects or who do not participate in data collection may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on the BD-STEPS framework to study factors during pregnancy that might contribute to birth defects. Researchers will use existing and new data from state and national sources to explore how medications, weight-related health factors, and other exposures relate to birth defects. The team emphasizes mentorship and collaboration with local universities to train the next generation of birth defects researchers. Over about 3.5 years, they plan to complete at least seven etiologic studies with results that could inform counseling for women planning pregnancies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform safer pregnancy practices and reduce the risk of birth defects for families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous birth defects research has shown that certain exposures during pregnancy are associated with increased risk, supporting the value of continued etiologic studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yazdy, Mahsa M — Massachusetts State Dept of Pub Health
- Study coordinator: Yazdy, Mahsa M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Birth Defects Study to Understand Causes of Structural Birth Defects
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Massachusetts center for birth defects and stillbirth prevention
This project looks at pregnancy exposures to find things people can avoid to lower the risk of structural birth defects and stillbirth.
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Arkansas birth defects and stillbirth center
Collecting information from pregnant people and families to find pregnancy-related causes of birth defects and stillbirths so future families can be helped.
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Investigating pregnancy exposures that may cause birth defects
This study is looking at ways to help pregnant women reduce the risk of birth defects by understanding how different things during pregnancy can affect their baby's health, and it will also help train new researchers in this important area.
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Investigating the causes of birth defects and their long-term effects on health.
This study is looking at what causes birth defects in babies, hoping to find ways to prevent them, and it’s for families who have been affected by these issues, as well as for moms and their children to help improve their health.
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How air pollution during pregnancy affects fetal growth over time
This study looks at how air pollution affects the growth of babies in the womb during pregnancy, using ultrasound images to track changes over time, and it aims to help expectant parents understand when their babies might be most at risk from pollution.
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.