Non-invasive fetal HLA and KIR genotyping from mom’s blood
Official title: Non-invasive fetal HLA and KIR genotyping of cell-free DNA from maternal blood
Funded at University of North Carolina Charlotte · NIH-11380416 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A non-invasive test using the mother’s blood to identify fetal HLA and KIR genes early in pregnancy to help predict risk of preeclampsia, especially in African American pregnancies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of North Carolina Charlotte NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charlotte, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $436,100 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD118554-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11380416 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals, especially African American women, in the first or early second trimester 10–20 weeks gestation.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnancies not at elevated risk or where the cfDNA test cannot clearly distinguish fetal from maternal signals.
What this research studies
This project aims to develop a high-resolution method to read fetal HLA and KIR genes from cell-free DNA in maternal blood taken around 10–20 weeks of pregnancy. It will create a targeted probe panel and sequencing workflow to separate fetal from maternal genetic information and produce a risk score for preeclampsia. By focusing on immune gene families linked to placental function, the study seeks to enable earlier risk stratification and potential early interventions. The work combines laboratory assay development with bioinformatics to translate complex genetic signals into a clinically usable test.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this test could identify pregnancies at higher risk for preeclampsia earlier, allowing closer monitoring and timely care to improve maternal outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous efforts have struggled with technical challenges in fetal genotyping, making this approach novel but building on prior concepts of cfDNA-based fetal testing.
Where this research is happening
-
University of North Carolina Charlotte
Charlotte, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Augusto, Danillo G — University of North Carolina Charlotte
- Study coordinator: Augusto, Danillo G
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.