NIH-funded research R01 grant

Cardiovascular health in the offspring of pregnancies affected by gestational glucose and weight

Official title: Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Study-Cardiovascular Health of HAPO Offspring (HAPO CVH)

Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11529770 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study follows young adults whose mothers had gestational diabetes or related conditions to understand how pregnancy health affects their heart and blood vessel health over time.

More Pregnancy research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionLurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chicago, United States)
Project startMarch 1, 2023
Project endFebruary 29, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$104,053
NIH project number3R01HL160921-04S1
Project IDNIH-11529770 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Adults aged approximately 18–25 whose mothers participated in the original HAPO studies or who have similar in utero exposure histories.

Less likely to help

People without a history of maternal gestational glycemia or adiposity exposure may be less directly impacted.

What this research studies

Researchers will use data from the long-running HAPO study to examine how maternal glucose, weight, blood pressure, and lipids during pregnancy relate to the offspring’s cardiovascular health and arterial health at ages 18–25. They will measure blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol and glucose levels, and lifestyle factors, and will look at DNA methylation to explore possible biological pathways linking in utero exposures to later heart health. The project will involve 1,000 offspring from several centers and will analyze how early-life factors translate into cardiovascular risks in adulthood. The approach aims to identify timing and mechanisms that could inform future interventions to reduce intergenerational cardiovascular risk.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the research could help tailor early-life or young-adulthood interventions to lower heart disease risk in people whose mothers had gestational complications.

How similar studies have gone: Previous follow-ups showed associations between gestational factors and offspring adiposity and glycemia, supporting the potential for meaningful findings in CVH.

Where this research is happening

  • Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
    Chicago, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Brickman, Wendy J — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
  • Study coordinator: Brickman, Wendy J

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.