How diabetes in mothers affects the development of birth defects in their babies

Epitranscriptomic Alteration and Planar Cell Polarity Signaling In Diabetic Embroyopathy

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · NIH-10891613

This study is looking at how diabetes in pregnant women might increase the chances of their babies having neural tube defects, and it aims to understand how changes in RNA during early development could play a role in this, with the hope of finding ways to reduce these risks.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10891613 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates how pregestational diabetes in mothers can lead to neural tube defects (NTDs) in their offspring. It focuses on the role of epitranscriptomic changes, specifically RNA modifications, during the critical neurulation stage of embryonic development. By examining the expression of specific methylation writers, the study aims to understand how maternal diabetes alters gene expression and cell polarity, potentially leading to birth defects. The researchers hypothesize that restoring certain gene expressions could mitigate these risks.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women or women planning to become pregnant who have pregestational diabetes.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have diabetes or are not planning to conceive may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new prevention strategies for reducing the risk of birth defects in children born to mothers with diabetes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the mechanisms of birth defects related to maternal diabetes, indicating that this approach has potential for success.

Where this research is happening

BALTIMORE, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.