Investigating how high blood sugar in mothers affects heart development in babies
Official title: A HUMAN IPSC-BASED ORGANOID PLATFORM FOR STUDYING MATERNAL HYPERGLYCEMIA-INDUCED CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS
Funded at Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11001107 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how high blood sugar in pregnant women might affect their babies' heart development, using special cells to see how sugar levels can impact heart cell health and function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbus, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $42,574 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HD113330-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001107 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are expectant mothers with diabetes or those who have experienced high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a history of maternal diabetes or congenital heart defects may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the link between maternal hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, and congenital heart defects (CHD) in offspring. By using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), the study aims to understand how high glucose levels impact the development of heart cells and their functionality. The researchers will employ various assays to measure mitochondrial activity and cell health in these stem cells under high glucose conditions. This approach could provide insights into the mechanisms behind heart defects caused by maternal diabetes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention strategies for congenital heart defects related to maternal diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using similar approaches with animal models have shown promising results, but this research aims to explore untested aspects in human stem cells.
Where this research is happening
-
Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
Columbus, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Contreras, Javier — Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp
- Study coordinator: Contreras, Javier
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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.