Investigating arterial stiffness in mothers and infants to prevent heart disease

Arterial stiffness in mother/infant dyads: Life course approach to prevent cardiovascular disease

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11170270

This study is looking at how the stiffness of blood vessels affects the heart health of pregnant women and their babies, and it aims to find ways to lower the risk of heart disease for both moms and kids over three years after childbirth.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-11170270 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how arterial stiffness, a key indicator of cardiovascular health, affects both mothers and their infants during and after pregnancy. By enrolling 840 pregnant women, the study aims to measure central pulse wave velocity, which helps predict cardiovascular disease risk. The research will also explore how various personal and social factors influence cardiovascular health over a three-year period postpartum. This approach seeks to identify effective strategies to reduce heart disease risk in women and their children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women, particularly those who are healthy or have medical complications during pregnancy.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or who do not have a connection to maternal or infant health may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention strategies for cardiovascular disease in women and their children.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in using similar approaches to assess cardiovascular risk in pregnant women, indicating a promising avenue for this study.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 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.