Genetic clues to stillbirth: understanding inherited and new variants
Official title: Inherited and de novo genetic variants relevant to familial, recurrent and sporadic stillbirth
Funded at Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah · NIH-11345379 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how genetic differences in families and new mutations may explain why some pregnancies end in stillbirth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $620,054 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD112836-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11345379 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with a history of stillbirth or their family members, including parent-offspring trios, may be eligible for related studies or future participation.
✕Less likely to help
Participants will not directly benefit from the study results during the research, and findings may not immediately translate to clinical care.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will study genetic data from families with a history of stillbirth and from parent-child pairs to find genes and variants associated with these losses. The project uses genome-wide and sequencing analyses to identify heritable and de novo genetic factors that may contribute to stillbirth risk. Findings could help families understand recurrence risk and guide future pregnancies with improved counseling and potential interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better genetic understanding and counseling for families affected by stillbirth and inform future prevention strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown familial clustering and detectable genetic signals, but much remains unknown, making this work a meaningful next step.
Where this research is happening
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Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
Salt Lake City, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Workalemahu, Tsegaselassie — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Workalemahu, Tsegaselassie
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stillbirth Data Hub: Coordinating Center for Big-Data and AI in Stillbirth Research
A national data hub is being built to coordinate data, biorepository, and analytics for stillbirth research using advanced AI and machine learning.
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Genetic roots of stillbirth and developmental disorders
A genetic study from Massachusetts General Hospital will look for inherited and new DNA changes that contribute to stillbirth and related developmental disorders in families.
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Innovative Data Core for Stillbirth Research Center
A data and software core is being built to harmonize and analyze information from multiple sites to uncover why stillbirth happens and to support future prevention.
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Administrative Core for Stillbirth Research Coordinating Center
A coordination core is being funded to organize and manage data, collaborations, and administration to help stillbirth research move forward.
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Stillbirth Data Coordinating Center focusing on AI-powered insights
A national data hub is using advanced AI and machine learning to analyze stillbirth data and help researchers find patterns that could prevent or understand stillbirth.
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NOURISH: nutrition and health factors linked to pregnancy outcomes and stillbirth risk
Aimed at understanding how nutrition and stress-related health factors affect placental function to prevent stillbirths in pregnancies.
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.