Preventing fetal heart block through early monitoring and treatment

Surveillance and Treatment to Prevent Fetal Atrioventricular Block Likely to Occur Quickly (STOP BLOQ)

NIH-funded research New York University School of Medicine · NIH-10850840

This study is looking at how to help prevent serious heart problems in unborn babies by having expectant moms check their baby's heart rate every day, so they can catch any issues early and get the right treatment in time.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionNew York University School of Medicine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (New York, United States)
Project IDNIH-10850840 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on preventing fetal complete atrioventricular block (AVB) by monitoring fetal heart rhythms and providing early treatment. It involves daily heart rate monitoring by expectant mothers, with confirmation of any abnormal findings through echocardiograms. The study aims to identify a critical window for treatment when the fetal heart rhythm begins to show irregularities, potentially preventing severe complications. The research is conducted across multiple sites, combining expertise from fetal cardiology and rheumatology.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women with high-titer anti-Ro autoantibodies during the second trimester.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have high-titer anti-Ro autoantibodies or are not in the second trimester may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce the incidence of fetal atrioventricular block and improve outcomes for affected pregnancies.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with similar monitoring approaches in other contexts, indicating potential for this method to be effective.

Where this research is happening

New York, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Cardiac DiseasesCardiac Disorders
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.