Mindfulness for mood and heart health during pregnancy
Official title: Mechanisms of Mindfulness for Improving Mood and Cardiovascular Health During the Perinatal Period
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11294004 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A mindfulness-based program for pregnant and postpartum people to help mood and heart health during the perinatal period.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $780,247 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL178654-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11294004 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant or recently postpartal individuals at risk for antenatal depression who are able to participate in mindfulness training sessions.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without antenatal depression or those unable to participate in mindfulness sessions may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests whether mindfulness training can help reduce depression and improve cardiovascular risk factors in pregnant and postpartum individuals. It uses a parallel design randomized controlled trial to examine mental and physiological pathways that link mood and heart health during pregnancy and after birth. If successful, the study could point to a non-drug approach to protect both maternal mental health and cardiovascular outcomes in the perinatal period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience better mood and lower cardiovascular risk during and after pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research suggests mindfulness can improve mood and some health risk factors, but mechanistic pathways in pregnancy are not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Levine, Michele D — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Levine, Michele D
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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.