How prenatal phthalates affect the placenta and timing of birth
Assessing how Prenatal Phthalate Exposure Disrupts Placental Transcriptional Regulation and Contributes to Changes in Gestational Length
This research looks at whether chemicals called phthalates during pregnancy change molecules in the placenta and are linked to earlier births in pregnant people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Seattle Children's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11222290 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I want to know if everyday chemicals called phthalates change the placenta in ways that make labor start early. Researchers will analyze placental tissue and maternal samples using large-scale gene and microRNA measurements from hundreds of pregnancies. They will link those molecular patterns to prenatal exposure information and birth timing to find signatures connected to spontaneous preterm birth. The team will search for molecules that may also be detectable in a mother's blood and could become future tests or targets to reduce risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people or recent birthing people who can provide placental tissue and prenatal exposure information, or those enrolled in cohorts with stored samples and birth records.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, lack placental samples or prenatal exposure data, or whose preterm births are due to clearly identifiable medical causes may not see direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to blood-based biomarkers or intervention targets to lower the risk of spontaneous preterm birth related to chemical exposures.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiological studies have consistently linked prenatal phthalate exposure to higher risk of preterm birth, and the team's prior transcriptomic work supports this approach, though combining microRNAs and placental signatures for prediction is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Seattle Children's Hospital — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Paquette, Alison Genevieve — Seattle Children's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Paquette, Alison Genevieve
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.