Developing new ways to test medicines for pregnancy and women's health
A Translational Center for Microphysiological Systems-Based Drug Development Tools for Pregnancy and Women's Health
This project aims to create advanced lab models to safely test new medicines for pregnant women and improve outcomes like preventing preterm birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11103201 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many pregnancies face complications such as preterm birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes, yet pregnant women are often excluded from drug trials due to safety concerns. This center will develop 'organ-on-a-chip' models that mimic the complex human pregnancy systems, including both mother and fetus. These sophisticated models will allow researchers to test how new drugs affect pregnancy without involving human patients directly. The goal is to accelerate the development of safer and more effective treatments for various pregnancy complications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who experience or are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as preterm birth or preeclampsia, could ultimately benefit from the new drug development tools created by this center.
Not a fit: Patients not experiencing pregnancy complications or those not seeking new drug treatments for such conditions may not directly benefit from this specific research tool development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lead to safer and more effective medications for pregnant women and better outcomes for both mothers and babies, especially in preventing issues like preterm birth.
How similar studies have performed: While organ-on-a-chip technologies are an emerging field, this center represents a novel, dedicated effort to apply these systems specifically to drug development for pregnancy and women's health.
Where this research is happening
Galveston, United States
- University of Texas Med Br Galveston — Galveston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Menon, Ramkumar — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Menon, Ramkumar
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.