How environmental chemicals during pregnancy affect women's heart and metabolic health
Official title: Environmental chemical exposures during pregnancy and women's cardio-metabolic health
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10867451 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how being exposed to certain chemicals during pregnancy might affect women's health after giving birth, especially regarding weight, breastfeeding, and long-term issues like diabetes and heart disease, and it involves 1,410 pregnant women to see how things like diet and weight might play a role.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $413,810 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES032213-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10867451 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women or those who have recently given birth, especially those concerned about their health and environmental exposures.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or have not recently given birth may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of environmental chemical exposures during pregnancy on women's health, particularly focusing on cardio-metabolic outcomes. It utilizes data from a cohort of 1,410 pregnant women to assess both short-term effects, such as postpartum weight retention and breastfeeding challenges, and long-term health issues like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. The study also examines how maternal characteristics, including obesity and diet, may influence these relationships. By analyzing various chemical exposures, the research aims to provide insights into how these factors affect women's health over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for cardio-metabolic diseases in women, particularly those who are pregnant.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated potential links between environmental exposures during pregnancy and adverse health outcomes, suggesting that this area of study is both relevant and necessary.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dabelea, Dana — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Dabelea, Dana
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
GROW Together: How a mother’s blood sugar affects a baby’s growth and future health in American Samoa
A study following pregnant Pacific Islander women in American Samoa to understand how glucose levels during pregnancy influence their babies’ early growth and later risk of diabetes.
-
How pregnancy exposure to environmental chemicals affects women's health later in life
This study is looking at how being exposed to certain chemicals while pregnant might affect women's health later on, especially regarding diabetes and other health issues, and it's for women in Puerto Rico who want to understand how their pregnancy experiences could impact their long-term well-being.
-
How air pollution during pregnancy affects fetal growth over time
This study looks at how air pollution affects the growth of babies in the womb during pregnancy, using ultrasound images to track changes over time, and it aims to help expectant parents understand when their babies might be most at risk from pollution.
-
Postoperative Pain Guidelines for Pregnancy: Safer, Patient-Centered Opioid Use
We’re creating patient-friendly guidelines to help doctors manage pain after delivery and surgery in pregnant people, aiming to reduce opioid overuse and improve safety.
-
HPV and pregnancy risk: a big study following 1,280 pregnancies
A large pregnancy study at UTMB looks at whether human papillomavirus (HPV) during pregnancy is linked to problems like preterm birth.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
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.