How X chromosomes control placenta function and the mother–baby connection
X chromosome dosage compensation and the regulation of the feto-maternal interface
Finding how X chromosome gene activity shapes the placenta to help mothers and babies with pregnancy complications.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11313835 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project looks at how genes on the X chromosome are turned up or turned off during early development and how that affects the placenta where mother and baby meet. Researchers study the Xist RNA and other switches that control X chromosome activity in embryonic and placental cells using laboratory models and tissue experiments. They will examine how mistakes in X chromosome dosage can weaken the feto‑maternal interface and lead to placental dysfunction. Results could point toward reasons some pregnancies have problems and suggest new directions for diagnosis or prevention.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who might be most relevant are pregnant individuals with placental complications (for example preeclampsia, fetal growth restriction, or recurrent pregnancy loss) or those able to donate placental tissue for research.
Not a fit: People without pregnancy- or placenta-related conditions (including most men and non-pregnant individuals) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal causes of placental problems and point to new ways to diagnose, monitor, or prevent pregnancy complications.
How similar studies have performed: Some parts of X chromosome inactivation are well understood, but studying X chromosome upregulation in the placenta is relatively new and remains largely untested in humans.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Plath, Kathrin — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Plath, Kathrin
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.