Investigating the causes of birth defects and their long-term effects on health.
Official title: Birth Defects Study to Evaluate Pregnancy exposureS (BD-STEPS) Core? Arkansas Center and Stillbirth
Funded at Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis · NIH-10907398 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at what causes birth defects in babies, hoping to find ways to prevent them, and it’s for families who have been affected by these issues, as well as for moms and their children to help improve their health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Little Rock, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $855,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DD001306-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907398 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women and families with a history of birth defects or those who have experienced a birth defect in their child.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of birth defects or are not currently pregnant may not receive benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to understand the complex factors that contribute to birth defects, which affect 3% of liveborn babies in the US. By examining both environmental and genetic influences, the study seeks to identify modifiable risk factors that could help prevent these defects. The research will involve collecting data from affected families and analyzing the long-term health impacts on both mothers and children. Ultimately, the goal is to improve maternal and child health outcomes through better understanding and prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to effective prevention strategies for birth defects, improving health outcomes for mothers and children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies, such as the National Birth Defects Prevention Study, have shown success in identifying risk factors for birth defects, indicating that this approach has potential for meaningful findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
Little Rock, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nembhard, Wendy N — Univ of Arkansas for Med Scis
- Study coordinator: Nembhard, Wendy N
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Birth Defects Prevention: How Pregnancy Exposures Shape Birth Outcomes (BD STEPS) for Massachusetts families
A Massachusetts team is studying how pregnancy exposures may influence birth defects to help families reduce risk in future pregnancies.
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Birth Defects Study to Understand Causes of Structural Birth Defects
A nationwide effort to find how genes and environment combine to cause structural birth defects, with the Arkansas Birth Defects study centers coordinating a pregnancy exposure look-back.
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Massachusetts center for birth defects and stillbirth prevention
This project looks at pregnancy exposures to find things people can avoid to lower the risk of structural birth defects and stillbirth.
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Arkansas birth defects and stillbirth center
Collecting information from pregnant people and families to find pregnancy-related causes of birth defects and stillbirths so future families can be helped.
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Investigating pregnancy exposures that may cause birth defects
This study is looking at ways to help pregnant women reduce the risk of birth defects by understanding how different things during pregnancy can affect their baby's health, and it will also help train new researchers in this important area.
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How air pollution during pregnancy affects fetal growth over time
This study looks at how air pollution affects the growth of babies in the womb during pregnancy, using ultrasound images to track changes over time, and it aims to help expectant parents understand when their babies might be most at risk from pollution.
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.