Finding early signs of preterm birth and related pregnancy complications
Official title: Development of Non-invasive Liquid Biopsy Screening Tool for Preterm Birth Causes and Consequences
Funded at Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation · NIH-11167550 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research aims to create a new blood test for expectant mothers to help identify risks for preterm birth and other pregnancy issues like preeclampsia and poor fetal growth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | August 13, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $692,908 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD110579-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11167550 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Expectant mothers, particularly those at risk for or diagnosed with preterm birth, preeclampsia, or intrauterine growth restriction, would be the ideal candidates for future applications of this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or whose pregnancies are not affected by preterm birth or related complications would not directly benefit from this specific screening tool.
What this research studies
Preterm birth is a major concern in pregnancy, and currently, it's hard to tell early on which mothers are at risk. This project is working on a special blood test, called a liquid biopsy, that looks at tiny pieces of DNA in a mother's blood. By examining specific patterns on this DNA, we hope to find early clues about preterm birth and predict how conditions like preeclampsia and restricted fetal growth might progress. This could help doctors provide better care and support for expectant mothers and their babies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this new blood test could allow doctors to identify at-risk pregnancies much earlier, leading to timely interventions and improved outcomes for mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: The researchers have built upon their previous successful work in non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), suggesting a foundation for this innovative approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Peters, David Gerard — Magee-Women's Res Inst and Foundation
- Study coordinator: Peters, David Gerard
Related research
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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.