Fetal brain health markers in pregnant people exposed to opioids
Official title: Assessment of fetal brain health via circulating exRNA carriers for opioid use disorder in pregnancy
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11377012 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study of fetal brain health using baby’s circulating RNA carriers in the blood of pregnant people with opioid exposure to help identify which infants may need early treatment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $700,016 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057748-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377012 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals with opioid exposure and their newborns, and infants at risk for NAS.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people without opioid exposure and infants not at risk for NAS are unlikely to benefit.
What this research studies
This project looks at tiny RNA carriers released by the fetal brain into maternal blood and how they relate to opioid exposure during pregnancy. By analyzing extracellular vesicles in maternal blood, researchers aim to find biomarkers that indicate fetal brain development and potential risk for neonatal abstinence syndrome. The goal is to improve early risk prediction and personalize care for opioid-exposed infants, rather than waiting for NAS to become evident after birth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to earlier, more targeted guidance for clinicians caring for opioid-exposed newborns and better-informed risk assessments for families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows extracellular RNA carriers can reflect fetal brain status, with growing evidence of their relevance to neurodevelopment.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chiu, Daniel T — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Chiu, Daniel T
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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.