Understanding how the maternal immune system changes during pregnancy to improve health outcomes.
Maternal Omics to Maximize Immunity
This study is looking at how a pregnant person's immune system changes from the time they conceive until their baby is born, to understand how these changes help the baby grow and keep both mom and baby healthy, with the goal of finding better treatments and vaccines for pregnant people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11058424 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates the dynamic changes in the maternal immune system from fertilization to birth, focusing on how these changes support fetal development and protect against infections. By creating a Pregnancy Immune Atlas, the study aims to identify the immunological mechanisms that contribute to successful pregnancies and optimal health for both mothers and infants. Utilizing advanced immunological profiling technologies, the research seeks to uncover insights that could lead to targeted therapies and improved vaccination strategies for pregnant individuals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals or those planning to become pregnant, particularly during the early stages of pregnancy.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or who are beyond the early stages of pregnancy may not receive benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better health outcomes for mothers and infants by informing targeted therapies and vaccination strategies during pregnancy.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in understanding immune changes during pregnancy, but this approach of creating a comprehensive immune atlas is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Cambridge, United States
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology — Cambridge, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lauffenburger, Douglas a — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Lauffenburger, Douglas a
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.