Prenatal mindfulness and inflammatory pathways to support mom and baby health
Official title: Inflammatory Pathways Modulated by Prenatal Mindfulness: A Route to Improve Maternal-Child Emotional Well-being and Whole Person Health
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11451269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from Oregon Health & Science University will explore how mindfulness during pregnancy might influence inflammatory signals and improve emotional well-being for mothers and healthy development for their children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,253,314 |
| NIH project number | 1R61AT013988-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11451269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals experiencing distress during the perinatal period and their infants.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without perinatal distress or those outside the perinatal window may not experience direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project looks at how stress and mindfulness in pregnancy relate to inflammatory markers and how these biological signals might connect to a mother’s emotional well-being and her baby’s early development. Researchers will enroll pregnant individuals and measure distress levels, inflammatory indicators, and mother-child outcomes over time. The goal is to understand whether mindfulness-based approaches could modulate inflammation and support better mental health and child development during the perinatal period.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to mindfulness-based strategies that help reduce maternal distress and promote healthier outcomes for babies.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies suggest links between stress, inflammation, and maternal/child health, but this work tests a specific mindfulness-related mechanism in this context.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sullivan, Elinor L. — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Sullivan, Elinor L.
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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.