Understanding how fertility treatments affect pregnancy and baby's health
Project 1: Epigenetic Regulation of Placental and Fetal Gene Expression in Human Pregnancy
This project looks at how fertility treatments might change a baby's development and long-term health by studying changes in the placenta and genes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194366 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Many families use assisted reproductive technologies (ART) to have children, and new methods are always being developed. While most ART pregnancies are healthy, some studies suggest a small increase in certain health risks for babies, like low birth weight or future heart and metabolism issues. This project aims to understand how ART, especially newer techniques like egg freezing, might cause subtle changes in how genes work, called epigenetics, in the placenta and the baby. By looking at these changes, we hope to learn more about why some children conceived with ART might face different health outcomes. This knowledge can help make ART even safer and more effective for future parents.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Patients who have conceived or are considering conception using assisted reproductive technologies, particularly those interested in the long-term health of their children, might find this research relevant.
Not a fit: Patients not using or considering assisted reproductive technologies would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could lead to a better understanding of how fertility treatments affect pregnancy and child health, potentially guiding improvements in ART procedures.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have shown that individuals conceived with ART can have altered epigenomes linked to clinical outcomes, suggesting a foundation for this research.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Senapati, Suneeta — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Senapati, Suneeta
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.