How PFAS chemical exposure may harm the placenta and blood vessels in pregnancy
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pregnancy vascular and placental dysfunction
This project looks at whether PFAS chemicals during pregnancy damage mothers' blood vessels and placentas and lead to babies growing too small.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11251954 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are pregnant or planning pregnancy, this research is trying to understand whether common PFAS chemicals can cause problems that make babies too small. The team will use experiments in animals to see if PFAS raise maternal blood pressure and reduce placental size. They will study placental tissue outside the body to measure blood vessel function and nutrient transfer. Lab tests will examine molecular signals that control placental blood vessel growth and nutrient transport.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant or planning pregnancy and who are concerned about or known to have higher PFAS exposure, or who have had fetal growth restriction, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or whose fetal growth problems are clearly due to genetic or non-environmental causes are unlikely to benefit directly from this grant's work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify how PFAS exposure causes fetal growth restriction and point to ways to prevent or reduce harm from these chemicals.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiological studies have linked PFOS and other PFAS to poor fetal growth and pilot animal studies show vascular and placental effects, but the specific mechanisms remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kumar, Sathish — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Kumar, Sathish
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.