Placenta-driven developmental lung injury in babies exposed to preeclampsia
Official title: Developing models of placenta-driven developmental lung injury in human preeclampsia
Funded at Boston Medical Center · NIH-11395301 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A doctor-scientist is studying how preeclampsia during pregnancy affects a baby’s lung development and how this may lead to breathing problems after birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $166,752 |
| NIH project number | 5K08HL177161-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395301 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals with preeclampsia and their preterm infants may be eligible for related future research or clinical studies as findings move toward translation.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnancies not affected by preeclampsia or infants not at risk for BPD may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This career-focused grant supports the physician-scientist to explore how signals from a diseased placenta influence fetal lung development, with a goal of understanding bronchopulmonary dysplasia in preterm babies. The work builds on animal findings and moves toward studying human placental factors that may impair infant lungs before birth. It includes a structured training plan to become an independent clinician-scientist in neonatal lung disease, with a focus on translating placental biology into potential therapies or strategies to prevent lung injury. The research aims to connect placental anti-angiogenic factors with changes in fetal lung structure and gene expression. Overall, the project seeks to reduce long-term lung complications for infants born to mothers with preeclampsia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier identification and new strategies to prevent or lessen chronic lung disease in preterm infants exposed to preeclampsia.
How similar studies have gone: Prior animal studies suggest placental factors influence fetal lung development, and human data in this area is growing but not yet conclusive.
Where this research is happening
-
Boston Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Taglauer, Elizabeth — Boston Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Taglauer, Elizabeth
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Placental support cells and fetal red blood cell quality in preeclampsia
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A digital health approach uses AI to spot early warning signs of preeclampsia and gestational hypertension from pregnancy data, so clinicians can tailor care for pregnant people.
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Folate Receptor Beta and its Role in Preeclampsia
This study explores how a protein called folate receptor beta on placental immune cells may drive or worsen preeclampsia in pregnancy, with hopes of finding new ways to prevent or treat the condition.
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.