New multi-action medicines to help prevent early labor
Novel Designed Multi-Ligands as Tocolytics for Dysregulated Myometrial Pathways in the Treatment of Preterm Labor
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO · NIH-11164814
Developing combined drugs that aim to calm uterine contractions in pregnant people at risk of preterm birth while keeping drug exposure to the baby low.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (RENO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11164814 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers are designing 'multi-ligand' medicines that act on several pathways in the uterus to stop contractions that lead to preterm birth. The team will make these compounds in the lab and test them on human uterine tissue samples and in animal models to see how well they stop contractions and how much crosses the placenta. They will also compare the combined multi-ligand drugs to their individual components to look for stronger, synergistic effects. The goal is to find treatments that delay labor longer than current options while reducing fetal exposure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people who are at risk of going into labor too early or who have early contractions would be the likely candidates for future clinical testing.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or those already in active, advanced labor may not benefit from these treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these drugs could prevent some preterm births by stopping early labor for longer periods while reducing drug exposure to the fetus.
How similar studies have performed: Existing tocolytic medicines are off-label and offer only short-term benefit, and creating multi-ligand tocolytics is a novel approach that has not yet been proven in humans.
Where this research is happening
RENO, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO — RENO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: BARNETT, SCOTT DANIELSON — UNIVERSITY OF NEVADA RENO
- Study coordinator: BARNETT, SCOTT DANIELSON
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.