SSRI use during pregnancy: effects on placental blood flow and inflammation
Official title: Use of SSRI during pregnancy on placental blood flow and the inflammatory response
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11608163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how antidepressants (SSRIs) used during pregnancy might affect the placenta and inflammation, and whether a 5-HT2 receptor blocker could mitigate any negative effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $599,997 |
| NIH project number | 1R56HD120425-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11608163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people currently taking or considering SSRI treatment and their clinicians may benefit from the findings.
✕Less likely to help
People not pregnant or not using SSRIs may not directly benefit from this research.
What this research studies
If you are pregnant and taking an SSRI, this research looks at whether the drug changes how blood flows through the placenta and increases placental cell death and inflammation. The team will test whether blocking 5-HT2 receptors with ketanserin can reverse these potential effects. They will explore which serotonin receptor subtypes are involved and use a human immune and endothelial cell analysis framework to understand immune and vascular changes in the placenta. The goal is to define risks specific to SSRIs during pregnancy and identify strategies to protect fetal development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: It could clarify SSRI-associated placental risks and point toward strategies to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes for mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has begun to map placenta responses to SSRIs, but this project aims to define mechanisms and mitigation strategies with human relevance.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hernandez, Laura Lorraine — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Hernandez, Laura Lorraine
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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.