Precision medicine ideas to prevent stillbirth
Official title: Precision medicine approaches to understand and prevent stillbirth
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11321659 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research project from the University of Washington aims to understand why stillbirth happens and how to prevent it, with a focus on disparities and placental biology.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $623,980 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD117802-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11321659 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals at risk for stillbirth, particularly from Black, American Indian/Alaskan Native, Pacific Islander-identifying backgrounds, and those with limited access to complete workups.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience a direct preventive benefit during the study period.
What this research studies
This project looks at why stillbirth occurs and how social and medical factors contribute to unequal outcomes. It plans to use a multidisciplinary approach, including placental health, autopsy findings, and genetic information, to identify when and why fetal demise happens. By engaging diverse populations and addressing barriers in care, the study hopes to improve prediction and prevention strategies for pregnant people at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to earlier identification of at-risk pregnancies and more effective prevention strategies for stillbirth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows stillbirth disparities exist, and multidisciplinary approaches are promising but require further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gray, Kathryn Johnson — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Gray, Kathryn Johnson
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Stillbirth Data Hub: Coordinating Center for Big-Data and AI in Stillbirth Research
A national data hub is being built to coordinate data, biorepository, and analytics for stillbirth research using advanced AI and machine learning.
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Genetic roots of stillbirth and developmental disorders
A genetic study from Massachusetts General Hospital will look for inherited and new DNA changes that contribute to stillbirth and related developmental disorders in families.
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Innovative Data Core for Stillbirth Research Center
A data and software core is being built to harmonize and analyze information from multiple sites to uncover why stillbirth happens and to support future prevention.
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Administrative Core for Stillbirth Research Coordinating Center
A coordination core is being funded to organize and manage data, collaborations, and administration to help stillbirth research move forward.
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Stillbirth Data Coordinating Center focusing on AI-powered insights
A national data hub is using advanced AI and machine learning to analyze stillbirth data and help researchers find patterns that could prevent or understand stillbirth.
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NOURISH: nutrition and health factors linked to pregnancy outcomes and stillbirth risk
Aimed at understanding how nutrition and stress-related health factors affect placental function to prevent stillbirths in pregnancies.
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.