How prior pregnancies and partner changes affect pregnancy health
Parity, paternity and pregnancy outcomes
This project looks at how a mother’s previous pregnancies and changes in partner can change immune memory that protects against problems like preterm birth and preeclampsia, for people who are pregnant or planning pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11325691 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From your point of view, researchers will link human pregnancy records with lab work to learn how a mother’s immune system remembers fetal antigens after one pregnancy and how that memory changes if the father is different. The team will study immune cells called regulatory T cells (Tregs) that expand in pregnancy and use animal models and human samples to track antigen-specific responses. If you take part, researchers may ask about pregnancy history and could collect blood or other samples to look for immune markers. The goal is to explain partner-specific protection and point toward ways to lower the risk of preterm birth, stillbirth, and preeclampsia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include pregnant people or those planning pregnancy, especially those with prior pregnancies or a history of preeclampsia or preterm birth, and possibly those with partner changes between pregnancies.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, not planning pregnancy, or whose pregnancy problems are unrelated to immune responses are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent preterm birth, stillbirth, and preeclampsia by enhancing maternal immune protection during pregnancy.
How similar studies have performed: Previous human epidemiology and mouse experiments have shown that prior pregnancy and partner-specific immune memory can protect future pregnancies, but translating that knowledge into therapies is still novel.
Where this research is happening
Cincinnati, United States
- Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr — Cincinnati, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Way, Sing Sing — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Way, Sing Sing
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.