Understanding how oxytocin can be better used to induce labor
Official title: Oxytocin for induction of labor: understanding goals and mechanisms
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11161632 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how to make the labor-inducing medication oxytocin work better and safer for pregnant women by finding the best dose and understanding how it affects contractions during labor.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 5, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $531,328 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD115637-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11161632 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals who are being considered for labor induction with oxytocin.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not undergoing labor induction or those with contraindications to oxytocin will not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the use of oxytocin, a common medication for inducing labor, to improve its effectiveness and safety for pregnant patients. The study aims to understand the optimal dosing of oxytocin and how it affects contraction patterns during labor. By exploring alternative measures of contraction adequacy beyond the current standard, the research seeks to enhance the outcomes of labor induction and reduce associated risks for both mothers and newborns. Patients may be monitored for their oxytocin levels and contraction responses to refine the induction process.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to safer and more effective labor induction practices, reducing complications for mothers and babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that optimizing labor induction methods can lead to improved outcomes, suggesting that this approach may also yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Raghuraman, Nandini — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Raghuraman, Nandini
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.