Genetic roots of stillbirth and developmental disorders
Official title: The genetic etiologies of stillbirth: an extreme on the developmental disorders continuum
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11600938 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $499,918 |
| NIH project number | 1R56HD121630-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11600938 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are families with a history of stillbirth or developmental disorders and available biological samples for sequencing.
✕Less likely to help
Some families may not have detectable genetic factors identified in this initial cohort or may not directly benefit from the research in the short term.
What this research studies
This project will combine genomic data from over 1,000 stillbirth cases and their family members to map the genetic landscape of stillbirth. Researchers will use short-read DNA sequencing as a first step and apply a advanced Bayesian framework to find both strong and subtle genetic signals, including effects outside of coding regions. The work builds on resources from the Fetal Genomics Consortium to better understand how genetic variation influences early development and pregnancy outcomes. Findings could point to new genetic factors that influence fetal development and inform future diagnostic and counseling approaches.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve understanding of why some pregnancies end in stillbirth and guide future tests or interventions for affected families.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research has shown that complex genetic factors contribute to stillbirth and related developmental disorders, with some known associations but many new signals yet to be defined.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Talkowski, Michael E — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Talkowski, Michael E
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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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.
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Road to Preventing Stillbirth at the University of Utah
A pathway-focused program at the University of Utah aims to reduce stillbirth by improving risk identification and addressing disparities among AIAN and NHPI communities.
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.