Vaginal nanomedicine to prevent inflammation-related preterm birth
Nanomedicine-based approach for characterizing the epigenome in prevention of inflammation-induced preterm birth.
A vaginal nanoparticle delivery system is being used to give medicines that may stop inflammation-triggered early labor in pregnant people at risk of preterm birth.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11237058 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would hear about a new approach that uses tiny nanoparticles placed vaginally to carry medicines directly to the reproductive tract to block inflammation that can trigger early labor. Researchers are testing histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) in a mouse model of inflammation-induced preterm birth to see if the treatment leads to full-term delivery and healthy offspring. The team measures pregnancy length, newborn survival, and early neurodevelopment after treatment, and studies how the drugs affect genes and tissue inflammation. The goal is to develop a safe, targeted treatment that could eventually be tested in pregnant people who face inflammation-related risk for early delivery.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal future candidates would be pregnant people at risk for inflammation-related preterm birth, such as those with signs of uterine inflammation or a history of inflammation-associated early delivery.
Not a fit: People whose risk of preterm birth is not related to inflammation, those not pregnant, or those outside the relevant pregnancy window would be unlikely to benefit from this approach.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to a targeted treatment that lowers the risk of inflammation-driven preterm birth and improves newborn survival and development.
How similar studies have performed: Preclinical mouse studies from this group showed prevention of inflammation-induced early delivery and healthy offspring, but the approach has not yet been tested in people.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ensign, Laura — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Ensign, Laura
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.