Investigating how opioid exposure during pregnancy affects fetal brain development and health.
Official title: Association of maternal, fetal and placental biomarkers with neonatal neuroimaging and development following in-utero opioid exposure
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-10748626 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using opioids during pregnancy affects the placenta and the baby's brain development, and it’s for expectant moms who have used opioids as well as those who haven’t, to help us understand how these factors might influence pregnancy and baby health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $2,573,346 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD113143-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10748626 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals who have been exposed to opioids during their pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not been exposed to opioids during pregnancy or those whose pregnancies are not at risk for neurodevelopmental issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research examines the impact of prenatal opioid exposure on the placenta and developing fetal brain, focusing on how these factors influence pregnancy outcomes and infant neurodevelopment. The study will track biomarkers from maternal blood and placental tissue to identify changes in gene expression and inflammation caused by opioid exposure. By comparing 100 pregnancies exposed to opioids with 50 non-exposed control pregnancies, the research aims to uncover critical time points and mechanisms of these modifications. Participants will provide blood samples during pregnancy and placental tissue at delivery for analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and management of the effects of opioid exposure on fetal development, potentially guiding interventions for affected infants.
How similar studies have gone: While the specific approach of this research is novel, previous studies have shown that understanding biomarkers related to prenatal exposures can provide valuable insights into infant health outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wachman, Elisha — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Wachman, Elisha
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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.