Investigating how high blood sugar in mothers affects heart development in babies

A HUMAN IPSC-BASED ORGANOID PLATFORM FOR STUDYING MATERNAL HYPERGLYCEMIA-INDUCED CONGENITAL HEART DEFECTS

NIH-funded research Research Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp · NIH-11001107

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 typeFellowship grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionResearch Inst Nationwide Children's Hosp NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Columbus, United States)
Project IDNIH-11001107 on NIH RePORTER

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.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are expectant mothers with diabetes or those who have experienced high blood sugar levels during pregnancy.

Not a fit: Patients without a history of maternal diabetes or congenital heart defects may not benefit from this research.

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 performed: 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

Columbus, 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 2026-06-13 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.