How low oxygen in pregnancy changes uterine blood flow
Official title: Mechanisms of uterine artery hemodynamics adaptation to pregnancy and gestational hypoxia
Funded at Loma Linda University · NIH-11323619 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are learning how low oxygen during pregnancy changes uterine blood flow and how that can affect pregnant people and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Loma Linda University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Loma Linda, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $793,792 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169157-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11323619 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This line of work is most relevant to pregnant people concerned about low‑oxygen exposures (for example at high altitude) or at risk for preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not pregnant or whose pregnancy risks are unrelated to uterine blood flow or low oxygen exposure are unlikely to get direct benefit from this work.
What this research studies
If I'm pregnant, I want to know how low oxygen could harm blood flow to my baby; this work looks into that problem. The team uses pregnant sheep as a model and laboratory methods (including RNA‑seq and molecular studies) to study uterine artery function. They focus on a protein called Rad and L‑type CaV1.2 calcium channels that control artery contraction, and they compare signals in sheep and humans including hormone effects. The goal is to understand why adaptation to chronic low oxygen sometimes fails and to point toward ways to protect mothers and babies from preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new tests or treatments to prevent or reduce pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and fetal growth restriction caused by low oxygen.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies have shown that gestational hypoxia raises uterine vascular resistance and blood pressure, but targeting the Rad/CaV1.2 mechanism is a novel approach not yet tested in patients.
Where this research is happening
-
Loma Linda University
Loma Linda, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zhang, Lubo — Loma Linda University
- Study coordinator: Zhang, Lubo
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How pregnancy affects blood flow in the uterus and responds to low oxygen levels
This study looks at how blood flow in the uterus changes during pregnancy, especially when there's less oxygen, like at high altitudes, to help us understand issues like preeclampsia and slow fetal growth, using pregnant sheep to learn more about how certain channels in the blood vessels work.
-
Iron overload and low oxygen in pregnancy with beta-thalassemia
A patient-friendly look at how excess iron and low oxygen during pregnancy could affect mothers and babies in beta-thalassemia.
-
How excess iron and low oxygen affect pregnancy in people with beta-thalassemia
Looking at how excess iron and low oxygen in beta-thalassemia affect mothers, placentas, and babies during pregnancy.
-
Effects of iron overload and low oxygen on pregnancy in women with β-thalassemia
This study looks at how too much iron and not enough oxygen during pregnancy can affect the health of women with β-thalassemia and their babies, aiming to find ways to make pregnancy safer for them.
-
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.
-
Using MRI to measure brain oxygen levels as an early sign of small vessel disease in the brain
This study is looking at how measuring oxygen levels in the brain with MRI can help spot early signs of small vessel disease, which is linked to memory problems and dementia, especially Alzheimer's, so if you're at risk due to age or high blood pressure, you might be able to participate in MRI scans to learn more about
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.