Center for Perinatal Discovery: Understanding fetal growth restriction and stillbirth
Official title: UC San Diego Center for Stillbirth Prevention: Maternal and Placental Determinants of Fetal Growth Restriction
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11376557 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A UC San Diego program aims to understand why some pregnancies have placental problems that lead to stillbirth and fetal growth restriction, so providers can predict and prevent these outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,369,830 |
| NIH project number | 5UG1HD119608-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11376557 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people whose pregnancies are at risk for placental dysfunction, FGR, or stillbirth, particularly in under-resourced communities.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnancies not showing placental dysfunction or related pathology may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project focuses on placental causes of stillbirth and FGR, using detailed clinical and pathology data from pregnant patients in the CPD cohort. Researchers will analyze molecular pathways and biomarkers from pregnancies affected by placental dysfunction to identify patterns associated with adverse outcomes. The goal is to improve antenatal diagnosis and risk stratification, helping clinicians monitor at-risk pregnancies more effectively. The work builds on previous findings from the CPD group and uses placenta-focused analyses to connect laboratory findings with real-world pregnancy care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier identification of high-risk pregnancies and better interventions to prevent stillbirth and severe FGR.
How similar studies have gone: Prior CPD studies have linked placental pathology with adverse pregnancy outcomes, indicating potential for translating pathways into clinical practice.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parast, Mana M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Parast, Mana M
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stillbirth Data Hub: Coordinating Center for Big-Data and AI in Stillbirth Research
A national data hub is being built to coordinate data, biorepository, and analytics for stillbirth research using advanced AI and machine learning.
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Genetic roots of stillbirth and developmental disorders
A genetic study from Massachusetts General Hospital will look for inherited and new DNA changes that contribute to stillbirth and related developmental disorders in families.
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Innovative Data Core for Stillbirth Research Center
A data and software core is being built to harmonize and analyze information from multiple sites to uncover why stillbirth happens and to support future prevention.
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Administrative Core for Stillbirth Research Coordinating Center
A coordination core is being funded to organize and manage data, collaborations, and administration to help stillbirth research move forward.
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Stillbirth Data Coordinating Center focusing on AI-powered insights
A national data hub is using advanced AI and machine learning to analyze stillbirth data and help researchers find patterns that could prevent or understand stillbirth.
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NOURISH: nutrition and health factors linked to pregnancy outcomes and stillbirth risk
Aimed at understanding how nutrition and stress-related health factors affect placental function to prevent stillbirths in pregnancies.
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.