Heat and pregnancy: how hot Weather Affects Placental Health and Birth
Official title: A Longitudinal Study of Heat Exposure, Placental Health, And Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Funded at Boston University Medical Campus · NIH-11449959 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study following pregnant people to understand how exposure to heat during pregnancy may impact placental health and birth outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $702,577 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD120576-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11449959 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals enrolled in the collaborating cohorts who can provide address data and attend regular prenatal visits.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people without access to the participating clinics or those not experiencing heat exposure relevant to the study may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers will use data from a long-running cohort of pregnant people to examine how heat exposure across all three trimesters relates to placental development and birth outcomes. They will combine longitudinal placental measurements collected during pregnancy with environmental heat data and participant addresses to identify critical periods of susceptibility. The study builds on prior cohort work and aims to uncover mechanisms linking heat to adverse outcomes so providers can better protect mothers and babies. Participation is through existing clinical visits at partner centers, with measurements taken over multiple in-pregnancy visits.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better guidance on heat exposure limits and timing for interventions to protect placental health and fetal development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous observational work has shown associations between heat exposure and adverse pregnancy outcomes, and this study leverages longitudinal placental data for deeper insight.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston University Medical Campus
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wesselink, Amelia Kent — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Wesselink, Amelia Kent
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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.