How the placenta affects maternal and fetal health

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This single-site, non-interventional observational project collects blood and placental samples from pregnant people with pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, fetal growth restriction, predisposed pregnancies, healthy pregnancies, and non-pregnant controls. Laboratory analyses will focus on extracellular vesicles and soluble placental factors to characterize their number, contents, and signaling properties. Researchers will compare molecular signatures across groups to identify markers linked to placental dysfunction. The ultimate goals are to find biomarkers for earlier detection and molecular targets that could inform future treatments.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Female, aged 18 years or above
* Willing and able to give informed consent for participation in the study
* Able to read and understand written and spoken English to comprehend study materials and give informed consent
* Non-pregnant women in good general health OR pregnant women who fall into one of the following:

  * Healthy pregnancy
  * Pre-eclampsia (PET) - defined by clinical diagnostic criteria, including hypertension and proteinuria
  * Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) - diagnosed by standard glucose tolerance tests during pregnancy
  * Fetal growth restriction (FGR) - diagnosed based on fetal weight or Doppler abnormalities
  * Predisposed to PET - high-risk factors for PET such as maternal type 1 or type 2 diabetes, autoimmune diseases or multiple pregnancies

Exclusion Criteria:

* Non-pregnant participants with active health conditions that could confound study outcomes
* Pregnant participants with conditions unrelated to PET, GDM or FGR that could influence EV profiles e.g. active infections or malignancies

Where it's running

• Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  Oxford, United Kingdom Recruiting

Study contacts

• Study coordinator: Professor Manu Vatish
• Email: manu.vatish@wrh.ox.ac.uk
• Phone: +441865 221009

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.