Penn Center for High-Risk Pregnancies
NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units (MFMU) Network: Clinical Center
This Penn center works with pregnant people at higher risk to test new ways to keep mothers and babies healthier and to collect samples that help research.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11310001 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are pregnant and get care at Penn, this center invites you to join clinical trials and follow-up programs aimed at improving outcomes for mothers and babies. The team coordinates enrollment, manages visits with experienced nurse coordinators, and collects biospecimens like blood and placental tissue for secure banking. They pull detailed clinical data from medical records and can provide around-the-clock coverage on labor and delivery units at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital. Your samples and data may be shared within the Maternal-Fetal Medicine Units Network to support multiple pregnancy-related studies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people receiving care at Penn (HUP or PAH), especially those with high-risk pregnancies who are willing to join trials or donate samples.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, have only low-risk pregnancies, or cannot travel to Penn hospitals are unlikely to directly benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to safer pregnancies, better treatments for high-risk conditions, and new tests to protect mothers and babies.
How similar studies have performed: The MFMU Network has a long track record of influential clinical trials in pregnancy that have changed care, so this site is part of a well-established effort.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dugoff, Lorraine — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Dugoff, Lorraine
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.