How the body's viruses change during pregnancy and after birth
Dynamic changes in virome-host interactions during pregnancy and postpartum
This project will track how the collection of viruses in the body and a pregnant person's immune system change from pregnancy through delivery and the postpartum period.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11193961 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be followed through pregnancy, at delivery, and after childbirth with samples taken at multiple time points. The team will collect blood and other biologic samples to look for viruses that infect human cells and to measure immune system changes. Researchers will use sequencing and lab tests to map the virome and compare it with immune markers and pregnancy events. The goal is to understand how virus–host interactions shift over time and relate to maternal and newborn health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant adults aged 21 or older who are willing to provide blood and other samples at several visits during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, under age 21, or unable/unwilling to attend study visits and provide samples would not directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify viral patterns or immune signals that help predict, prevent, or better manage infections and related complications during pregnancy.
How similar studies have performed: While single-virus links to pregnancy problems have been studied, comprehensive longitudinal tracking of the full human virome during pregnancy is relatively new and not yet widely established.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wylie, Kristine M. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Wylie, Kristine 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.