Vaginal ecosystem links to preeclampsia
A large scale investigation of the vaginal ecosystem in preeclampsia
['FUNDING_R01'] · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · NIH-11181585
Looking at early-pregnancy vaginal microbes, immune signals, and metabolites to find links to later preeclampsia in pregnant people.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11181585 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze vaginal swabs taken in early pregnancy from a large, well‑characterized national pregnancy cohort (nuMoM2b). They will profile the vaginal microbiome, measure metabolites, and examine local immune markers across multiple time points. Those biological data will be combined with detailed clinical records to see which vaginal features are linked with later severe preeclampsia. Advanced computational methods will be used to find microbial, metabolic, or immune patterns that precede or contribute to preeclampsia.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people with early-pregnancy samples or those receiving care at sites that contributed to the nuMoM2b cohort, especially in the first or second trimester.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant or who develop preeclampsia before early-pregnancy sampling (or who lack vaginal samples/clinical records) are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early vaginal markers that help predict or prevent preeclampsia and guide future interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Related research has linked the vaginal microbiome to some pregnancy complications, but applying multi-omics profiling specifically to preeclampsia is relatively new and not yet proven.
Where this research is happening
NEW YORK, UNITED STATES
- COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES — NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KOREM, TAL — COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- Study coordinator: KOREM, TAL
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.