How the baby’s membranes and immune cells respond to infection
Mechanisms regulating fetal membrane and neutrophil responses to infection
This project looks at how infections trigger inflammation in the membranes around a baby and how that can lead to preterm birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11249135 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, researchers will examine human fetal membrane tissue and immune cells to see how they react when exposed to bacterial signals. They will study specific pattern-recognition receptors (like Toll‑like and Nod‑like receptors) and measure key inflammatory signals such as IL‑8 and IL‑1β and inflammasome activity. The team will expose tissues to common bacterial components (LPS, peptidoglycan, muramyl dipeptide) in the lab to map the signaling steps that draw neutrophils in and may cause tissue injury. Findings come from experiments using human membrane samples and immune cells to identify points where protective responses turn harmful.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who are pregnant with signs of intrauterine infection or those delivering preterm who can consent to donate placental or fetal membrane tissue would be the ideal participants for sample donation.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or cannot provide placental/fetal membrane samples are unlikely to participate or directly benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to prevent or reduce harmful inflammation that leads to chorioamnionitis and preterm birth.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked IL‑8, IL‑1β, and neutrophil infiltration to chorioamnionitis and preterm birth, but the detailed regulatory mechanisms this project targets remain incompletely described.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Abrahams, Vikki M — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Abrahams, Vikki M
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.