How the placenta sends tiny packages to communicate with the mother
Exosome Based Placental Maternal Communication
['FUNDING_R37'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11259485
This project looks at how tiny particles released by the placenta talk to a pregnant mother and affect pregnancy health.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R37'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11259485 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers may ask pregnant people to provide blood samples and placental tissue after delivery so they can isolate and study exosomes (very small vesicles) released by placental cells. Lab tests will examine what these exosomes carry and how they interact with maternal tissues, combining analyses of human samples with controlled laboratory experiments. The team aims to link specific exosome signals to conditions like preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, or preterm birth. Findings will be compared to existing clinical data to search for patterns that could signal risk or guide future therapies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant people willing to give blood during pregnancy and placenta or related samples at delivery, especially those at higher risk for preeclampsia, growth restriction, or preterm birth.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or who have pregnancy issues unrelated to placental function are unlikely to get direct benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection of pregnancy complications and point to new ways to prevent or treat conditions such as preeclampsia and fetal growth problems.
How similar studies have performed: Previous laboratory and early clinical studies show placental exosomes carry biologically active signals, but translating these findings into clinical tests or treatments is still at an early stage.
Where this research is happening
STANFORD, UNITED STATES
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY — STANFORD, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: SADOVSKY, YOEL — STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: SADOVSKY, YOEL
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.
Conditions: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome Virus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Virus