Intergenerational heart health: studying how a mother's gestational health affects offspring cardiovascular risk
Official title: Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome Study-Cardiovascular Health of HAPO Offspring (HAPO CVH)
Funded at Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago · NIH-11294335 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how a mother’s health during pregnancy may influence her child’s heart health in young adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,762,069 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL160921-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294335 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Offspring aged 18–25 who are part of the original HAPO/FUS cohort and located at participating centers.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct personal health benefits, but contribute to knowledge that may help others in the future.
What this research studies
This project will use data from the existing HAPO cohort to explore how maternal factors like adiposity, glucose, blood pressure, and lipids during pregnancy relate to cardiovascular risk and arterial health in offspring aged 18–25. It will measure blood pressure, body fat, cholesterol and glucose, and track lifestyle factors in 1,000 offspring across four centers. The study will also examine DNA methylation patterns to understand biological pathways linking in utero exposures to later cardiovascular health. Findings could point to timing and targets for interventions to reduce intergenerational CVD risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could identify early-life factors and mechanisms that influence a child’s future heart health, guiding prevention strategies for families affected by gestational risks.
How similar studies have gone: Previous follow-up of the HAPO cohort has shown ongoing associations between maternal gestational factors and offspring adiposity and glycemia, supporting further exploration of CVH links.
Where this research is happening
-
Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Brickman, Wendy J — Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
- Study coordinator: Brickman, Wendy J
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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.