T cells at the placenta during pregnancy
Function of T cells at the Maternal-Fetal Interface
This project looks at how immune T cells in the placenta behave during pregnancy to help prevent preterm birth in mothers and newborns.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11247088 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze immune cells from placentas and related tissues to see how T cells may drive inflammation that leads to early labor. The team combines lab studies of human placental samples with animal models that mimic human pregnancy to trace how these cells act. They use advanced cell and molecular methods to compare placentas from preterm and term births. The goal is to find signals or cell behaviors that could be targeted to reduce preterm deliveries.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be pregnant people at risk for preterm birth or those willing to donate placental tissue or clinical data after delivery.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or whose conditions are unrelated to placental inflammation are unlikely to benefit directly from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to predict, prevent, or treat preterm birth by targeting immune activity at the placenta.
How similar studies have performed: This approach is relatively new: early animal and tissue studies suggest placental immune cells matter, but treatments based on these findings are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
New Haven, United States
- Yale University — New Haven, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Konnikova, Liza — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Konnikova, Liza
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 below.