Birth Defects Study to Understand Causes of Structural Birth Defects
Official title: Birth Defects Study to Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS) Core? Arkansas Center and Stillbirth
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-11395048 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide effort to find how genes and environment combine to cause structural birth defects, with the Arkansas Birth Defects study centers coordinating a pregnancy exposure look-back.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $641,250 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DD001306-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395048 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include pregnant individuals and families affected by birth defects, as well as existing health records and biospecimens linked to birth outcomes.
✕Less likely to help
Families not affected by birth defects or those outside the study regions may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This program focuses on uncovering why some babies are born with major structural birth defects by examining genetic factors and environmental exposures during pregnancy. Researchers will combine population-based data with analyses of maternal and child health outcomes to identify modifiable risk factors. The study builds on past work from national birth defects programs and aims to clarify how birth defects develop over time, potentially guiding prevention strategies. Participants would include pregnant individuals and families affected by birth defects, as well as linked health records to study long-term health impacts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to clearer prevention strategies and better health outcomes for children born with birth defects and their families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous multisite birth defects studies have identified multiple risk factors, but much remains unknown, making this a continuation with potential for new insights.
Where this research is happening
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Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nembhard, Wendy N — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Nembhard, Wendy N
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Birth Defects Prevention: How Pregnancy Exposures Shape Birth Outcomes (BD STEPS) for Massachusetts families
A Massachusetts team is studying how pregnancy exposures may influence birth defects to help families reduce risk in future pregnancies.
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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.