Improving child heart health by reducing depression in pregnant women
Official title: Reducing maternal prenatal depression to improve child cardiovascular health
Funded at University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) · NIH-11010864 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how helping pregnant moms feel less depressed can lead to better heart health for their kids when they’re 3 to 4 years old, so if you're a mom-to-be dealing with depression, this research might be for you!
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Denver (Colorado Seminary) NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Denver, United States) |
| Project start | January 15, 2021 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $550,924 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL155744-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010864 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women experiencing high levels of depressive symptoms.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without significant depressive symptoms may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how reducing prenatal depression in mothers can positively impact the cardiovascular health of their children. By utilizing a randomized controlled trial, the study will implement a psychosocial intervention aimed at alleviating depressive symptoms in pregnant women. The researchers will track the health outcomes of children aged 3-4 years to determine if there is a significant improvement in cardiovascular health linked to the mother's mental health during pregnancy. This approach combines behavioral, physiological, and developmental analyses to understand the long-term effects of maternal mental health on child health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved cardiovascular health in children by addressing maternal mental health during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that interventions to reduce maternal depression can have positive effects on child health, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
Denver, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Davis, Elysia Poggi — University of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
- Study coordinator: Davis, Elysia Poggi
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Improving child heart health by reducing depression in pregnant women
This study is looking at whether helping pregnant moms feel less depressed can lead to better heart health for their kids when they are 3 to 4 years old.
-
Improving child heart health by reducing depression in pregnant women
This study is looking at whether helping pregnant moms feel less depressed can lead to better heart health for their kids as they grow up.
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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.