Fentanyl use during pregnancy and its effects on mom, placenta, and baby
Official title: Fentanyl use during pregnancy: impact on dam, placenta, and offspring development.
Funded at University of Mississippi Med Ctr · NIH-11454741 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how fentanyl use during pregnancy affects a mother's health, the placenta, and the development of the child.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $513,343 |
| NIH project number | 4R01DA059181-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11454741 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant individuals with opioid exposure or at-risk populations, plus researchers who can translate findings to human health.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people without opioid exposure may not directly benefit from this animal-model study.
What this research studies
Researchers will study the impact of fentanyl self-administered by pregnant rats on maternal health, placental function, and the growth and stress responses of the offspring, using a translation-friendly animal model and measurements of physiology and behavior. The study will track cardiovascular health, breathing, stress hormones, and oxidative stress in the mothers, as well as placental performance. In the babies, the work will look at overall health, signs of withdrawal, growth, and how stress reactivity develops after birth. The goal is to provide insights that may inform care for pregnant people with opioid exposure and guide strategies to protect fetal and child health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could inform medical guidance and interventions to reduce harm to mothers and babies affected by opioid use during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown that opioid exposure can affect offspring development, supporting the relevance of this translational approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Mississippi Med Ctr
Jackson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rüedi-Bettschen, Daniela — University of Mississippi Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Rüedi-Bettschen, Daniela
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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.