Phthalate exposure during pregnancy and after birth and mothers' heart and metabolic health
Official title: Pregnancy and postpartum as vulnerable exposure windows: phthalates and maternal cardiometabolic health
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11312583 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are looking at whether common plastics chemicals called phthalates during pregnancy and the postpartum period are linked to changes in mothers' weight, blood sugar, inflammation, and heart health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | May 2, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $592,031 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES033185-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312583 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People who are pregnant (especially in early or late pregnancy) or recently postpartum who can provide urine/blood samples and health information would be the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not pregnant or far beyond the postpartum period, or those seeking immediate clinical treatment for diabetes or heart disease, are unlikely to get direct medical benefit from participating.
What this research studies
If I join, the team will measure phthalate breakdown products in my blood and urine during pregnancy and after my baby is born and will track my weight, blood sugar, cholesterol, inflammation (like C-reactive protein), and other health measures over time. They will use samples and data from multiple pregnancy groups and follow people from early pregnancy into the postpartum period to see when exposure matters most. The study uses stored biological samples, clinic visits, and questionnaires to build a detailed picture of exposure and health changes. The goal is to identify times when mothers are most vulnerable so guidance can better protect long-term heart and metabolic health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify chemical exposures that raise mothers' risk of diabetes or cardiovascular disease and inform guidance to reduce those risks during pregnancy and postpartum.
How similar studies have gone: Prior pregnancy cohort research has linked phthalates to excessive gestational weight gain, gestational diabetes, and impaired glucose tolerance, but long-term effects and precise vulnerable windows remain unclear.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: James-Todd, Tamarra M — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: James-Todd, Tamarra M
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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.