Understanding how cells interact at the uterine-placental interface during pregnancy
Signaling at the Uterine Placental Interface
This study is looking at how cells from a mother and her baby work together in the uterus to ensure the baby grows healthy, focusing on how certain cells help with blood flow and nutrients; it's for anyone interested in understanding more about what can go wrong during pregnancy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Kansas Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Kansas City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10890618 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the interactions between maternal and fetal cells at the uterine-placental interface, which are crucial for healthy fetal development. It focuses on trophoblast stem cells and their ability to invade the uterus, a process that is essential for proper blood flow and nutrient delivery to the fetus. By using both rat models and human trophoblast stem cells, the study aims to uncover the molecular mechanisms that regulate this invasion and how failures in this process can lead to pregnancy complications. Advanced techniques like single-cell RNA sequencing are employed to identify key regulators involved in trophoblast cell differentiation.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals experiencing complications or those at risk for conditions like preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or those with unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new insights and treatments for pregnancy-related complications such as preeclampsia and early pregnancy loss.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in understanding trophoblast cell behavior, but this specific approach using CRISPR and single-cell sequencing is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Kansas City, United States
- University of Kansas Medical Center — Kansas City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Simon, Mikaela Elizabeth — University of Kansas Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Simon, Mikaela Elizabeth
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.