California center to find causes and prevent birth defects
Comp A: CALIFORNIA CENTER OF BD-STEPS III FINDING CAUSES AND PREVENTIVES OF BIRTH DEFECTS
Researchers are using large California and national pregnancy datasets to learn what causes birth defects and how to prevent them for pregnant people and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11137550 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This center combines California-specific data with national BD-STEPS and NBDPS datasets to look for pregnancy exposures and other factors linked to specific birth defects. Researchers will analyze existing medical records, interviews, and environmental information from a diverse population to identify modifiable risks. The project works with other centers across the country to apply rigorous epidemiologic methods and spot patterns that could lead to safer pregnancy guidance. Results aim to inform prevention strategies that might lower the chance of some birth defects in future pregnancies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant, recently pregnant, or parents of babies born with birth defects—especially those living in California—are the most likely to be involved.
Not a fit: People not planning pregnancy, or those affected by birth defects caused by non-modifiable genetic factors, may not see direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to specific exposures or behaviors that pregnant people can avoid to reduce the risk of some birth defects.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier BD-STEPS and the National Birth Defects Prevention Study have already linked certain exposures to specific birth defects, so this work builds on prior successful findings.
Where this research is happening
Stanford, United States
- Stanford University — Stanford, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shaw, Gary M — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Shaw, Gary M
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 below.