Understanding how the fetus and placenta avoid rejection by the mother's immune system
Official title: Glycan regulation of fetomaternal tolerance
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-11126731 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a baby and the placenta manage to stay safe from the mother's immune system, which is important for preventing pregnancy issues like growth problems and high blood pressure during pregnancy, and it aims to find new ways to help keep pregnancies healthy.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $655,665 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI184482-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11126731 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals experiencing complications related to immune tolerance, such as recurrent miscarriages or preeclampsia.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without a history of immune-related pregnancy complications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the mechanisms by which the fetus and placenta evade rejection from the maternal immune system, a critical aspect of reproductive immunology. It aims to fill knowledge gaps that hinder the development of therapies for pregnancy complications such as intrauterine growth restriction and preeclampsia. The study will utilize both mouse and human models to explore the role of glycan-specific antibodies and B cells in modulating immune responses to placental antigens. By understanding these interactions, the research seeks to identify potential strategies for inducing immune tolerance during pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that improve pregnancy outcomes and reduce complications related to immune rejection.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding immune tolerance mechanisms in pregnancy, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Erlebacher, Adrian — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Erlebacher, Adrian
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.