Investigating the effects of opioid use during pregnancy on fetal brain and placenta health
Official title: The Opioid in Pregnancy: Imaging of Oxygenation, Inflammation, and Development in Brain & Placenta Project (OPIOID BPP)
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10750770 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how using opioids during pregnancy can affect a baby's brain development and the placenta, with the hope of finding ways to help babies who might be impacted by this.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $2,337,729 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD113199-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10750770 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals with a history of opioid use disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without a history of opioid use disorder may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how maternal opioid use disorder affects fetal brain development and placental function. By using advanced imaging techniques, the study aims to identify the mechanisms through which prenatal opioid exposure leads to conditions like neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome and impaired neurodevelopment. The research will analyze placental inflammation and oxygenation levels to uncover their roles in fetal brain injury. Ultimately, the goal is to improve outcomes for infants exposed to opioids in utero.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better strategies for managing and mitigating the effects of opioid exposure during pregnancy, improving health outcomes for affected infants.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the impacts of prenatal substance exposure, but this specific approach using advanced imaging techniques is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kelly, Jeannie Chen — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Kelly, Jeannie Chen
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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.