Placenta aging and heart failure around childbirth
Placental Senescence in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
This work looks at whether early aging of the placenta causes heart failure in women during late pregnancy or soon after birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129832 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project explores whether the placenta becomes prematurely aged in some pregnancies and whether that triggers peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM). Researchers will compare blood proteins and placental tissue from women with PPCM or preeclampsia to those without these conditions. They will combine molecular profiling of the circulating proteome with lab models to test whether senescent placental cells cause heart damage. The team aims to identify senescence markers that could point to new tests or treatments for pregnancy-related heart failure.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Women who are pregnant or recently postpartum and have been diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy or preeclampsia, or who are considered at high risk for PPCM, would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or whose heart failure is unrelated to pregnancy (including men and non-pregnant women) are unlikely to benefit directly from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to tests to identify women at risk and new ways to prevent or treat heart failure after pregnancy.
How similar studies have performed: The investigators have preliminary data linking senescence markers to PPCM, but using placental senescence as the causal 'second hit' is a novel approach that builds on promising early findings.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roh, Jason David — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Roh, Jason David
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.