Understanding Placental Cells and Pregnancy Complications
Cellular Atlas of the Human Placenta: Structure-Function Relationships and their Implications for Placental Dysfunction
This research aims to create a detailed map of cells in the human placenta to better understand how problems with the placenta can lead to pregnancy complications like preeclampsia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11126739 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
When problems happen with the placenta during pregnancy, it can lead to serious conditions like preeclampsia or issues with fetal growth. Currently, doctors can only examine the placenta after delivery, making it hard to understand exactly how these problems develop at a cellular level. This project uses advanced technologies to map out the different types of cells in the human placenta and see how they work together. By understanding the normal structure and function of these cells, we can learn what goes wrong when placental dysfunction occurs.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to individuals who have experienced pregnancy complications related to placental dysfunction, such as preeclampsia or fetal growth restriction.
Not a fit: Patients without pregnancy complications related to placental dysfunction may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to identify, prevent, or treat pregnancy complications by understanding the root causes of placental dysfunction.
How similar studies have performed: Other groups have begun using advanced cell mapping techniques on placentas, and this project builds upon those findings by adding spatial context and functional evaluation.
Where this research is happening
La Jolla, United States
- University of California, San Diego — La Jolla, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Parast, Mana M — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Parast, Mana M
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.