How the placenta affects insulin during pregnancy
Official title: Placental miRNAs paracrine and endocrine roles in insulin sensitivity in pregnancy
Funded at Tufts Medical Center · NIH-11139571 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how tiny molecules from the placenta might control how a mother's body uses insulin during pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 16, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $450,060 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD109206-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11139571 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is foundational for understanding insulin regulation in all pregnant individuals, especially those at risk for or experiencing gestational diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have conditions related to insulin sensitivity in pregnancy would not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
During pregnancy, a mother's body naturally becomes less sensitive to insulin to help feed the baby. However, if this change is too much, it can lead to problems like gestational diabetes, which can affect both mother and baby. We believe that certain small molecules, called microRNAs, produced by the placenta might be key players in regulating this process. This project aims to understand how these placental microRNAs work to influence a mother's insulin sensitivity throughout pregnancy. By uncovering these mechanisms, we hope to find new ways to prevent or manage gestational diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict, prevent, or treat gestational diabetes, improving health for mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific mechanisms are unknown, previous observations have linked placental microRNAs to maternal insulin sensitivity, providing a foundation for this new exploration.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'tierney-Ginn, Perrie F — Tufts Medical Center
- Study coordinator: O'tierney-Ginn, Perrie F
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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.