The impact of social factors and aging on preterm birth in Black women
Official title: Epigenetic aging, social factors, and preterm birth among Black women
Funded at University of Central Florida · NIH-10980554 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress and aging can affect the chances of Black women having babies too early, and it hopes to find new ways to understand and improve the health of these mothers and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Central Florida NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Orlando, United States) |
| Project start | March 18, 2023 |
| Project end | November 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $583,204 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MD018293-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10980554 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are Black women who are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not Black women or who are not currently pregnant may not receive benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how social stressors and biological aging affect the risk of preterm birth among Black women. It focuses on understanding the relationship between epigenetic aging—how our genes are influenced by life experiences—and the likelihood of giving birth before 37 weeks of gestation. By examining the unique challenges faced by Black women, such as chronic stress from racial discrimination, the study aims to uncover new insights that could lead to better risk assessments for preterm birth. The methodology includes analyzing biological samples and social factors to identify patterns that may contribute to this health disparity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing preterm births among Black women, ultimately reducing infant mortality rates.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that social factors and biological aging can significantly impact health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Central Florida
Orlando, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Giurgescu, Carmen — University of Central Florida
- Study coordinator: Giurgescu, Carmen
Related research
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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.