In Vivo Look at Placental Blood Flow in Gestational Diabetes

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project uses new MRI methods to measure how well the placenta’s blood vessels function inside the womb for pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes. It plans to enroll 50 pregnancies (25 with gestational diabetes and 25 without) and track placental signals over time. The team will link MRI markers of placental vascular health to maternal blood sugar levels and to baby outcomes like brain size, gestational age at birth, and birthweight percentile. The goal is to identify in-utero signs of placental vascular problems that could predict future child health. The study builds on prior work with these MRI techniques and aims to translate vascular measurements into potential clinical guidance.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
  Los Angeles, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Rajagopalan, Vidya — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
• Study coordinator: Rajagopalan, Vidya

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

• Decoding how gestational diabetes links to future coronary artery disease

  A study using health records and big data to understand why women who had gestational diabetes later face heart disease, with the goal of guiding prevention.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-11366359

• Understanding how gestational diabetes and depression during pregnancy affect mothers and their children

  This project explores how gestational diabetes and depression during pregnancy might influence a mother's mental health after birth and her child's brain development.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11178601

• Better Blood Sugar Goals for Pregnant Women with Gestational Diabetes Who Are Overweight or Obese

  This project looks at whether stricter blood sugar goals can help pregnant women who have gestational diabetes and are also overweight or obese have healthier pregnancies and babies.

  NIH research Indiana University Indianapolis · Indianapolis, United States · NIH-11124050

• Understanding how gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy

  This study is looking at how the body's insulin-producing cells change in pregnant women to better understand gestational diabetes and help improve diabetes care for moms both during and after pregnancy.

  NIH research Mayo Clinic Rochester · Rochester, United States · NIH-11099798

• The effects of gestational diabetes and maternal depression on child development

  This study looks at how having gestational diabetes and feeling depressed during pregnancy might affect how children develop, and it’s for moms-to-be who want to understand how their health can impact their little ones.

  NIH research New York University School of Medicine · New York, United States · NIH-11010561

• Helping women with a history of gestational diabetes prevent type 2 diabetes.

  This study is helping women who had gestational diabetes learn about their options for preventing type 2 diabetes, using a friendly tool that makes it easier for them to choose the best path for their health and lifestyle.

  NIH research University of California Los Angeles · Los Angeles, United States · NIH-10992133

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.