How early placental cells develop in healthy and preeclamptic pregnancies

Modeling Normal and Abnormal Trophoblasts

['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA · NIH-11314593

Researchers compare early placental cells from pregnancies with and without preeclampsia to learn what goes wrong.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI-COLUMBIA (nih funded)
Locations1 site (COLUMBIA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11314593 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

You might be asked to provide tissue or cells from a pregnancy that researchers turn into induced pluripotent stem cells and then guide into the two main early placental cell types. They will grow these cells in 3-D organoids and use chemical signals like BMP4 to push them toward syncytiotrophoblast or extravillous trophoblast fates. By comparing cells from early-onset preeclampsia and healthy pregnancies, they will look for defects in how these cells form and function. This lab-based work aims to point toward new tests or treatments rather than provide immediate clinical care.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates would be people who had pregnancies complicated by early-onset preeclampsia and healthy pregnant donors willing to provide tissue or cells for research.

Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment for preeclampsia will not receive direct clinical benefit from this laboratory-focused project.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Could reveal early placental problems that lead to better tests or new ways to prevent or treat preeclampsia.

How similar studies have performed: iPSC and organoid models have provided new insights into placental biology, but applying these methods specifically to early-onset preeclampsia is a relatively new approach.

Where this research is happening

COLUMBIA, 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.