Using engineered particles to treat fetal organ damage
Official title: Engineering of Polymeric Particles for Fetal Therapy
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11097241 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help unborn babies with certain organ problems by using tiny particles that deliver special molecules to support healthy organ growth, aiming to improve outcomes for conditions like congenital diaphragmatic hernia and spina bifida.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $377,781 |
| NIH project number | 5R01EB032791-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11097241 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals whose fetuses are diagnosed with structural diseases that affect organ development.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose fetuses do not have structural diseases or who are beyond the early stages of pregnancy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a novel therapy using engineered polymeric particles to treat organ damage in fetuses caused by structural diseases. By utilizing prenatal imaging, the researchers can diagnose these conditions early and predict their severity. The therapy involves delivering nanoparticles that carry specific microRNAs to improve organ growth, which can be administered through minimally invasive procedures like amniocentesis. The goal is to enhance treatment outcomes for conditions such as congenital diaphragmatic hernia and spina bifida.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved fetal health outcomes and better organ development before birth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in using nanoparticle-based therapies for fetal conditions, indicating a potential for success with this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Saltzman, W. Mark — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Saltzman, W. Mark
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Aging Well with HIV: Alcohol, Risk Reduction, and Education Center (AWAR3E)
A center at Yale is exploring how aging with HIV interacts with alcohol use to create inflammation and frailty, with the goal of finding biomarkers and potential treatments.
-
Community Health Worker–Led Hypertension Prevention and Control in Nepal
A community health worker–driven approach in Nepal aims to prevent and control high blood pressure among adults by bringing education and care directly to communities and homes.
-
Community health worker-led hypertension prevention and control in Nepal
A community health worker–led program in Nepal aims to help adults prevent and better control high blood pressure through home visits, education, and ongoing support.
-
Adapting a mobile health tool to boost HIV outcomes for older adults with HIV in Ukraine
A mobile health platform called PositiveLinks would be adapted for older adults with HIV in Ukraine to help them stay engaged in care and improve treatment success.
-
Behavioral and neural links between spoken language sounds and written words in young children
This grant studies how young children learn from listening and reading to improve literacy, by looking at how sound patterns transfer to written language.
-
Understanding how autoimmunity causes myasthenia gravis
This project looks at why the immune system attacks the nerve-muscle connection in myasthenia gravis and how different patient groups are affected.
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.