Protecting mothers' hearts during and after pregnancy
Official title: Protecting the maternal heart from pregnancy associated heart disease
Funded at Tulane University of Louisiana · NIH-10767091 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a gene called PTRH2 might help protect the hearts of new moms from a serious condition called postpartum cardiomyopathy, with the hope of finding new ways to keep them healthy after pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tulane University of Louisiana NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Orleans, United States) |
| Project start | March 13, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2022 |
| Award (this year) | $357,192 |
| NIH project number | 7R01HD091162-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10767091 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women or new mothers who may be at risk for postpartum cardiomyopathy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have a history of heart disease prior to pregnancy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates postpartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM), a serious heart condition that can develop in women during or after pregnancy, particularly in those with no prior heart issues. The study focuses on understanding the role of a specific gene, PTRH2, in protecting the heart from stress during pregnancy. By using genetically modified mice, researchers aim to uncover how this gene influences heart cell survival and may lead to new treatment options for PPCM. The ultimate goal is to identify mechanisms that can prevent heart failure in new mothers.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing heart failure in women during and after pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: While postpartum cardiomyopathy is a relatively under-researched area, understanding the genetic factors involved in heart protection during pregnancy is a novel approach that has shown promise in preliminary studies.
Where this research is happening
-
Tulane University of Louisiana
New Orleans, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Matter, Michelle L — Tulane University of Louisiana
- Study coordinator: Matter, Michelle L
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
How air pollution during pregnancy affects fetal growth over time
This study looks at how air pollution affects the growth of babies in the womb during pregnancy, using ultrasound images to track changes over time, and it aims to help expectant parents understand when their babies might be most at risk from pollution.
-
Accelerating Rheumatic Heart Disease Prevention in Uganda
A program to find people with rheumatic heart disease in Ugandan communities and give them preventive care close to home.
-
Multimodal AI to improve genetic diagnosis of congenital heart disease
A new AI tool uses multiple types of patient data to help doctors find genetic causes of congenital heart disease more accurately.
-
Postoperative Pain Guidelines for Pregnancy: Safer, Patient-Centered Opioid Use
We’re creating patient-friendly guidelines to help doctors manage pain after delivery and surgery in pregnant people, aiming to reduce opioid overuse and improve safety.
-
HPV and pregnancy risk: a big study following 1,280 pregnancies
A large pregnancy study at UTMB looks at whether human papillomavirus (HPV) during pregnancy is linked to problems like preterm birth.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
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.