Understanding how cells interact at the uterine-placental interface during pregnancy
Official title: Signaling at the Uterine Placental Interface
Funded at University of Kansas Medical Center · NIH-10890618 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | July 17, 2023 |
| Project end | July 16, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $37,752 |
| NIH project number | 5F31HD113433-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10890618 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals experiencing complications or those at risk for conditions like preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those with unrelated health conditions may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Motor-Cognitive Training for Older Adults at Risk of Dementia
A Phase II trial tests a combined motor and cognitive training program for older adults at risk of dementia to see if it helps daily function and slows dementia onset.
-
MOVE Peds: Moving Toward Better Outcomes for Pediatric FSHD
A study in kids with a rare muscle disease (FSHD) will test how well certain outcomes reflect change and help guide future clinical trials.
-
How DNA methylation changes in our cells affect gene activity
This project studies how chemical changes to DNA, and the way DNA is packaged, influence how genes turn on or off in vertebrate cells.
-
Dietary oxysterols and metabolic dysfunction in the gut-liver axis
Aims to understand how oxidized cholesterol byproducts in processed foods affect gut and liver health, especially in adults with type 2 diabetes or related conditions.
-
Intermittent fasting and blood sugar in adults with diabetes
A study will look at how two forms of intermittent fasting might improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
-
Dysfunctional fat tissue and its link to fatty liver and diabetes
Researchers are studying how problems in fat tissue contribute to fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes in adults.
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.