Placental immune cells and the risk of passing CMV to babies
Role of maternal-fetal interface NK cells in pregnancy maintenance and congenital CMV transmission
This work looks at whether special immune cells in the placenta help keep pregnancies healthy and stop mothers with CMV from passing the virus to their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290352 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear that the team studies natural killer (NK) immune cells that live at the maternal–fetal interface to understand how they both protect the fetus and allow pregnancy to continue. They examine human placentas and cord blood and also use a nonhuman primate pregnancy model to follow immune changes across gestation. The researchers focus on CMV-specific memory NK cells and how these cells influence whether CMV crosses the placenta. By comparing human samples with detailed animal model studies, they aim to map the immune behaviors that affect congenital CMV transmission.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants would be pregnant people with known chronic CMV infection or individuals willing to donate placenta or cord blood samples during delivery, especially in the second or third trimester.
Not a fit: People without CMV exposure or anyone seeking an immediate treatment for an active infection are unlikely to receive direct clinical benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to ways to reduce or prevent congenital CMV infection and better protect pregnancies affected by maternal CMV.
How similar studies have performed: Past studies show NK cells are important in pregnancy and in CMV immunity, but applying that knowledge specifically to how CMV crosses the placenta is relatively new and not yet well established.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Permar, Sallie R. — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Permar, Sallie R.
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.