NIH-funded research R01 grant

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-11246005 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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.

More Depression research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Denver (Colorado Seminary)
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Denver, United States)
Project startJanuary 15, 2021
Project endDecember 31, 2025
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$35,272
NIH project number3R01HL155744-05S1
Project IDNIH-11246005 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 monitor both maternal and child behaviors and physiological responses over time to assess the effectiveness of the intervention. The goal is to determine if lowering maternal depression can lead to better heart health outcomes for children as they grow.

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 be effective, but this specific approach focusing on cardiovascular outcomes in children is relatively novel.

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

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.