IL-10 delivery via tiny vesicles to delay preterm birth
Official title: IL-10 Delivery Using Extracellular Vesicles to Delay Preterm Birth
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-11369666 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aims to deliver anti-inflammatory IL-10 inside tiny particles to the fetus to help delay preterm birth and reduce inflammation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $718,278 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114744-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369666 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates would be pregnant individuals at risk of preterm birth where fetal inflammation plays a role, under appropriate clinical oversight.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without fetal inflammatory involvement or those not eligible for prenatal therapies may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a new way to deliver IL-10, an anti-inflammatory protein, inside extracellular vesicles to reach the fetus and placenta. By using these natural vesicles, the therapy stays in the body longer and can reach target tissues without injecting directly into the amniotic sac. In preclinical models of preterm birth, this approach delayed labor and reduced fetal and maternal inflammation. If successful, it could offer a fetal-focused treatment to complement maternal therapies and improve neonatal outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could extend pregnancy a few days or more and reduce inflammation-related complications for newborns.
How similar studies have gone: Previous preclinical work showed delayed preterm birth and reduced inflammation in mouse models using EV-delivered IL-10.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Menon, Ramkumar — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Menon, Ramkumar
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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.