Direct measurement of RhD sensitization after early-pregnancy bleeding
Official title: Direct Measurement of RhD Sensitization Following Bleeding in Pregnancy Less than 12 Weeks Gestation
Funded at Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr · NIH-11413670 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests how often Rh immunoglobulin given after bleeding in early pregnancy prevents RhD sensitization in pregnant people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hershey, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2025 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $658,136 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD116890-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11413670 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people with bleeding before 12 weeks gestation who are candidates for RhIg management.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without bleeding before 12 weeks or those not considered for RhIg would not directly benefit from this specific measurement study.
What this research studies
RhIg is a scarce blood product used to prevent RhD sensitization. This project directly measures sensitization rates in pregnant individuals with bleeding before 12 weeks to clarify whether routine RhIg at this stage is needed. The researchers plan to enroll participants, track bleeding events, and determine sensitization outcomes, aiming to guide clearer, evidence-based use of RhIg. Results could influence guidelines and help conserve RhIg supplies while protecting mothers and babies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could refine when RhIg is truly necessary, reducing unnecessary use and preserving scarce RhIg for cases with clear benefit.
How similar studies have gone: Previous population studies have suggested limited benefit of early-RhIg, but direct measurement in this specific setting is novel and may confirm or refine those findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
Hershey, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horvath, Sarah — Pennsylvania State Univ Hershey Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Horvath, Sarah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
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.
-
Postoperative Pain Guidelines for Pregnancy: Safer, Patient-Centered Opioid Use
We’re creating patient-friendly guidelines to help doctors manage pain after delivery and surgery in pregnant people, aiming to reduce opioid overuse and improve safety.
-
HPV and pregnancy risk: a big study following 1,280 pregnancies
A large pregnancy study at UTMB looks at whether human papillomavirus (HPV) during pregnancy is linked to problems like preterm birth.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Blocking cancer-causing cMYC tricks after pregnancy changes in the breast
Researchers are testing how pregnancy and aging reshape the breast before cancer risk, using patient-reinformed models to see if it changes how dangerous cMYC signals behave.
-
SSRI use during pregnancy: effects on placental blood flow and inflammation
This grant studies how antidepressants (SSRIs) used during pregnancy might affect the placenta and inflammation, and whether a 5-HT2 receptor blocker could mitigate any negative effects.
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.