Placental proteins that support babies born early
Placental Proteins and Prematurity
This project looks at placental proteins to find ways to help babies born before 37 weeks.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238925 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research studies proteins the placenta releases before birth and how losing them at delivery might harm babies born early. Researchers will analyze human placentas and blood samples to identify proteins that support lung, brain, and blood-vessel development. They will use lab models and animal experiments to test how specific placental proteins affect organ growth and to explore whether replacing them could help preterm infants. The goal is to guide future treatments or supplements to reduce complications like chronic lung disease or brain injury in preterm babies.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people at risk of early delivery and parents of infants born before 37 weeks who can consent to provide placental tissue, cord blood, or allow their infant to join related studies would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who deliver at term, adults without pregnancy-related concerns, or patients with conditions unrelated to placental proteins are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new therapies or supplements that protect developing organs and improve outcomes for babies born premature.
How similar studies have performed: Early animal studies and initial human tissue analyses support the role of placental proteins in fetal organ development, but direct treatments replacing those proteins in preterm infants remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
Aurora, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado Denver — Aurora, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jansson, Thomas — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Jansson, Thomas
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.