Heart and blood vessel health after first pregnancy
Continuation of the NuMoM2b Heart Health Study
Following thousands of women after their first pregnancy to learn how pregnancy problems link to later heart and brain blood vessel health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Triangle Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Research Triangle Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247056 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would join a group of 4,475 women who were originally enrolled during their first pregnancy and have had health data and blood/tissue samples collected for years. The project keeps in touch every six months and brings participants in for at least one in-person visit to measure heart risk factors and collect biospecimens. Researchers use the long-term health records and stored samples to connect pregnancy complications (like preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or preterm birth) with later heart, brain blood vessel, and kidney outcomes. The study also supports additional smaller studies that use this data to answer more focused questions about early signs and causes of cardiovascular disease in women.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women who had their first pregnancy, especially those who experienced complications such as preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, or preterm birth, are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who have never been pregnant and men are unlikely to be eligible or receive direct benefit from findings focused on pregnancy-related cardiovascular risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors spot early warning signs and create better prevention and treatment plans for heart and blood vessel disease in women after pregnancy.
How similar studies have performed: Other long-term pregnancy cohorts have linked pregnancy complications to higher future heart and stroke risk, but ongoing follow-up like this is needed to pinpoint timing and mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
Research Triangle Park, United States
- Research Triangle Institute — Research Triangle Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcneil, Rebecca Boehm — Research Triangle Institute
- Study coordinator: Mcneil, Rebecca Boehm
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 below.