February 26, 2015 – The National Institutes of Health says it has dedicated $41.5 million for an initiative to understand and monitor the development of the human placenta during pregnancy.
NIH Earmarks $41.5 Million for Human Placenta Development
Managing Director, NIH, Mr. Alan Guttmacher said the funding will support the development of new technologies to assess the health of the placenta as it grows and matures, with the ultimate goal of improving the health of mothers and children.
“The placenta is a lifeline that gives us our start in the world,” he said.
NIH’s Eunice Kennedy Shriver, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development are also part of the initiative. According to them, the placenta influences the health of mother and child not just during pregnancy, but for the rest of their lives.
“However, despite its important role, the placenta has received comparatively little attention. If we can develop technologies to monitor placental health during pregnancy, we should be able to prevent some of these problems from happening. We hope this funding opportunity will attract a broad range of researchers and clinicians to help — placental biologists, obstetricians, and experts in imaging, bioengineering, and other arenas”, Guttmacher said.
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He explained that until now, most studies of the placenta have been limited to ultrasound exams, blood tests, and the examination of placental tissue after delivery, adding that these studies have provided important foundational knowledge.
“The placenta is a fascinating organ, but it’s one of the least understood. For researchers who want to apply their skills in an area of medicine that isn’t being looked at as much as both scientific opportunity and human health warrant, this is a wonderful chance, ” he said.
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