Finding new treatments for inflammation that causes early birth
Official title: Discovery of Novel Therapeutics for Inflammation Induced Preterm Birth
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11119417 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how inflammation and infections can cause babies to be born too early, and it's for anyone interested in finding new ways to prevent early labor by developing better treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $248,999 |
| NIH project number | 4R00HD108420-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11119417 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals at risk of preterm birth due to inflammation or infection.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those whose preterm birth is not related to inflammation or infection may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how inflammation and infection can lead to preterm birth, which occurs before 37 weeks of pregnancy. The project involves developing new therapeutic approaches to manage these conditions using advanced techniques in gestational tissue modeling. The research will be conducted at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where the team will utilize a combination of hands-on training, coursework, and mentorship to explore innovative drug discovery methods. The ultimate goal is to create effective interventions that can help prevent early labor caused by infections.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly reduce the incidence of preterm birth and improve outcomes for infants.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in developing therapies for preterm birth, but this approach is innovative and aims to address specific inflammatory triggers.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Siricilla, Shajila — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Siricilla, Shajila
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Screening and treatment of Chlamydia infection in pregnancy to help prevent preterm birth
This grant studies whether screening pregnant people for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating those who are positive can reduce the risk of preterm birth.
-
Xylitol to Prevent Periodontal Disease and Preterm Birth in Pregnancy and Early Childhood
A safe, inexpensive chewable gum approach using xylitol is tested to help pregnant people reduce gum disease and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health problems.
-
Screening and treatment for Chlamydia infection to help prevent preterm birth
A study in pregnant people will test whether screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating it during pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies being born too early.
-
IL-9 Signaling and Immune-Driven Preterm Birth
This NIH grant supports training a physician-scientist to lead a new lab studying how immune signals, especially IL-9, affect preterm birth.
-
Predicting Preterm Birth with Longitudinal Multi-Omics Data
A new, patient-friendly approach uses time-aware omics data from pregnancy to better predict preterm birth and uncover underlying biology.
-
Skeletal health after preterm birth in adults
Researchers will study why people born prematurely have weaker bones and fractures, starting in infancy and following into adulthood.
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.