How being small at birth may raise adult heart disease risk
Early Developmental Risk for Adult Cardiovascular Disease: High risk Subgroups, Biomarkers, and Mechanisms
['FUNDING_R01'] · BROWN UNIVERSITY · NIH-11144485
This project looks at whether people born small for their gestational age show biological signs and lifelong changes that increase their risk of coronary heart disease as middle-aged adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | BROWN UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11144485 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you were born smaller than expected for your time in the womb, researchers will use long-term health records and blood samples taken at birth to trace heart and metabolic changes across your life. The team will analyze stored umbilical cord serum and current exam data from people now in their late 50s–60s to search for biomarkers and heart changes linked to later coronary disease. They will focus on processes like placental problems, low oxygen or nutrient exposure before birth, and early heart remodeling that might explain why some small-born infants develop heart disease while others do not. The work aims to find which subgroups of small-born people are at highest risk and what measurable signs could guide earlier screening or prevention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are middle-aged adults born small for gestational age—especially participants in the New England Family Study (born 1959–1966) or those with documented birth records and available early-life samples.
Not a fit: People without documented birth size/records or those not born small for gestational age are less likely to benefit directly from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help identify middle-aged adults born small for gestational age who would benefit from earlier heart screening or preventive care.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked small birth size to higher adult heart disease risk, but results have varied and the specific biological mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
Where this research is happening
PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES
- BROWN UNIVERSITY — PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BUKA, STEPHEN L — BROWN UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: BUKA, STEPHEN L
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.