Pregnancy and Heart Health: Predicting and Preventing Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Problems
Official title: Clinical and Physiological Determinants of Pregnancy-Related Cardiovascular Complications
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11273545 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A research grant is developing advanced data tools to identify pregnant women at high risk of heart-related complications so clinicians can prevent maternal death.
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 start | September 10, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $893,837 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL182978-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11273545 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant women or those planning pregnancy who may be at risk for cardiovascular complications.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without identified risk factors or those already under optimal cardiovascular care may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses real-world electronic health records and advanced computer models to identify pregnant women who are at high risk for cardiovascular problems. Researchers have already built a large, multi-institutional dataset and developed machine learning and ECG-based risk models to predict who might experience pregnancy-related heart issues. The work aims to connect deep vascular physiologic insights with these predictive tools to guide personalized care during pregnancy. Findings could help clinicians intervene earlier and tailor monitoring for those most at risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could lead to earlier, personalized care that reduces pregnancy-related cardiovascular deaths.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary work shows predictive models and deep vascular phenotyping can identify risk, suggesting potential for clinical impact.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lau, Emily — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Lau, Emily
Related research
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-
Pregnancy Checkup app to lower pregnancy-related illness and deaths
This expands a pregnancy app to give pregnant people tailored risk screening, helpful content, and immediate live-chat support to connect them with services.
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.