Iowa Birth Defects Research and Prevention Center
Iowa CBDRP Comp A: BD-STEPS Core
This program collects information from pregnancies and newborns in Iowa to learn how environmental exposures and genetics contribute to birth defects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Iowa NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Iowa City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11136826 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are a parent of a baby born in Iowa, the center may ask permission to use medical records, conduct interviews about pregnancy exposures, and sometimes collect biological samples to classify birth defects and explore causes. The team links local delivery records to the Iowa registry and the national BD-STEPS database to compare affected and unaffected pregnancies. Researchers combine exposure histories with genetic data to look for patterns and gene–environment interactions for specific defect types. The work emphasizes careful, individual classification of birth defects rather than grouping all defects together.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people or parents of infants born in Iowa, especially if a major birth defect is present, who are willing to share records, answer exposure surveys, or provide samples.
Not a fit: People who live outside Iowa or those seeking immediate treatment for a baby’s condition are unlikely to receive direct medical benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help identify preventable causes of birth defects and improve prevention advice and care for future pregnancies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous work by the Iowa CBDRP and BD-STEPS has produced published findings linking environmental exposures and gene variants to specific birth defects, though many causes remain unknown.
Where this research is happening
Iowa City, United States
- University of Iowa — Iowa City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Romitti, Paul a — University of Iowa
- Study coordinator: Romitti, Paul a
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 below.