Stem cell models to understand placental problems in early-onset preeclampsia
Official title: Stem Cell-based Modeling of Placental Defects associated with Early-Onset Preeclampsia
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11312572 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses stem cells to recreate placental cells so researchers can learn how early-onset preeclampsia starts and how supporting cells affect it for pregnant people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $590,367 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD114720-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11312572 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants would be pregnant people at risk for early-onset preeclampsia or individuals who can provide placental tissue or clinical data after an affected pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not pregnant, who only experienced late-onset preeclampsia, or who cannot or will not donate tissue are unlikely to benefit directly from participation.
What this research studies
From a patient's point of view, researchers will grow key placental cell types from stem cells to build lab models that mimic healthy and early-onset preeclampsia placentas. They will compare molecular and cellular features of actual placentas showing maternal vascular malperfusion, with or without fetal vascular problems, to those stem-cell models. The team will test how mesenchymal stem/stromal cells at the chorionic villi influence trophoblast differentiation and function. Overall they aim to pick the best stem-cell modeling method and uncover cellular mechanisms behind the placental contribution to early preeclampsia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify placental cell changes or targets that help prevent, diagnose, or treat early-onset preeclampsia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous stem-cell and placental modeling work has provided useful insights, but applying these methods specifically to maternal vascular malperfusion and mesenchymal cell interactions is relatively new and exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Horii, Mariko — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Horii, Mariko
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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.