Using exosomes to deliver anti-inflammatory treatments for preterm birth
Official title: Developing IL-10 encapsulated exosomes as novel therapeutics for spontaneous preterm birth
Funded at University of Texas Med Br Galveston · NIH-10752691 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is exploring a new way to help prevent early births by using tiny particles called exosomes to deliver a special anti-inflammatory treatment, which could offer a better option for pregnant people at risk of preterm birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Med Br Galveston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Galveston, United States) |
| Project start | December 9, 2022 |
| Project end | November 30, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $80,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R03HD108495-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10752691 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals at risk of spontaneous preterm birth, particularly those experiencing inflammation or infections.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those with conditions unrelated to preterm birth may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a new therapeutic approach to prevent spontaneous preterm birth (PTB) by using exosomes that encapsulate the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10. The study aims to enhance the delivery of this treatment across the placental barrier, addressing the limitations of current therapies that often fail to effectively reduce PTB rates. By engineering exosomes through electroporation, the researchers hope to improve pregnancy outcomes by balancing inflammation and supporting fetal development. Patients may benefit from a more effective treatment option that targets the underlying immune dysregulation associated with PTB.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a novel treatment that significantly reduces the incidence of spontaneous preterm birth.
How similar studies have gone: While the use of exosomes for drug delivery is a growing field, this specific approach targeting preterm birth is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in clinical settings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Med Br Galveston
Galveston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kammala, Ananth Kumar — University of Texas Med Br Galveston
- Study coordinator: Kammala, Ananth Kumar
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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.