Liver problems during pregnancy and how they affect moms and babies
Official title: Liver Diseases and Pregnancy Complications
Funded at University of Rhode Island · NIH-11290318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Looking at whether high bile acid levels in pregnant people with liver disease lead to higher risks of preterm birth and stillbirth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rhode Island NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kingston, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | February 29, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $393,664 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK139489-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11290318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people diagnosed with ICP or NAFLD, especially those with elevated serum bile acids or a history of preterm birth, are the most likely candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not pregnant or whose pregnancy problems are unrelated to bile acid abnormalities are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
What this research studies
If you join, researchers may review your pregnancy records and ask for blood samples to measure total bile acids and other liver markers. They will compare outcomes for pregnant people with intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP) or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) to those without these conditions. Lab and animal experiments will also be used to understand how specific bile acids cause preterm birth and stillbirth and to test ways to restore bile acid balance. The combined human data and lab work aim to point toward better tests or treatments to reduce pregnancy complications linked to liver disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new tests or treatments that lower harmful bile acids and reduce preterm birth and stillbirth in pregnant people with liver disease.
How similar studies have gone: Large observational data have linked high bile acids to worse pregnancy outcomes and preclinical work suggests lowering bile acids helps, but definitive human treatment trials remain limited.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Deng, Ruitang — University of Rhode Island
- Study coordinator: Deng, Ruitang
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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.