DNA Repair in Placental Cells Under Low Oxygen
Official title: DNA Repair Mechanisms in Hypoxia-Induced Placental Genomic Instability
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11433344 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A funded project at UC San Diego will study how DNA repair problems in the placenta’s early cells contribute to genomic instability under low-oxygen conditions seen in pregnancy complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| 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, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $668,485 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD122847-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433344 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with pregnancies at risk for placental dysfunction (e.g., those with hypertensive disorders or fetal growth restriction) may benefit from the insights.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnancies without placental dysfunction or hypoxia-related complications may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This grant supports a project to understand why placental cells accumulate DNA damage when oxygen levels fluctuate during early pregnancy. The team will use 3-D placental models, ATAC and other assays to probe base excision repair and apoptosis pathways in trophoblast cells. By linking oxidative DNA damage to deficiencies in DNA repair, the research aims to clarify how placental instability relates to maternal vascular malperfusion, preeclampsia, and fetal growth restriction. The work combines human placental tissue and patient-derived stem cell models to map how hypoxia influences DNA repair and genome integrity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to protect placental DNA from damage, potentially reducing pregnancy complications.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data show oxidative DNA damage is linked to placental DNA repair defects, suggesting a plausible path for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fisch, Kathleen Marie — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Fisch, Kathleen Marie
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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.