Measuring Rna in Maternal Blood to Monitor the Wellbeing of Growth-Restricted Fetuses

Grant number: 1028521 | Funding period: 2012 - 2015

Completed

Abstract

Severely growth restricted fetuses are at peril of stillbirth from low oxygenation. While ultrasound monitoring improves outcomes, babies are still lost. Better ways to monitor the health the unborn baby are needed. We have recently discovered fetuses’ starved of oxygen leak RNA into mother's blood. Thus, measuring RNA molecules in blood could be used to assess fetal health. We will examine whether measuring mRNA in maternal blood could be used to monitor wellbeing of growth-restricted fetuses.

Related publications (9)

Circulating mRNAs are differentially expressed in pregnancies with severe placental insufficiency and at high risk of stillbirth

Natalie J Hannan, Owen Stock, Rebecca Spencer, Clare Whitehead, Anna L David, Katie Groom, Scott Petersen, Amanda Henry, Joanne M Said, Sean Seeho, Stefan C Kane, Lavinia Gordon, Sally Beard, Kantaraja Chindera, Smita Karegodar, Richard Hiscock, Natasha Pritchard, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino, Susan P Walker, Stephen Tong

2020-05-22

Background Fetuses affected by placental insufficiency do not receive adequate nutrients and oxygenation, become growth restricted..

Severe placental insufficiency, acidemia and imminent stillbirth are associated with changes in circulating levels of mRNA coding NR4A2, RCBTB2 and EMP1

Stephen Tong, Clare Whitehead, Susan Walker, Gordon Lavinia, Jo Said, Katie Groom, Scott Petersen, Sean Seeho, Amanda Henry, Stefan Kane, Natalie Hannan, Owen Stock

2018-01-01

Identifying late-onset fetal growth restriction by measuring circulating placental RNA in the maternal blood at 28 weeks' gestation

CL Whitehead, H McNamara, SP Walker, M Alexiadis, PJ Fuller, DK Vickers, NJ Hannan, R Hastie, L Tuohey, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, S Tong

2016-04-01

Measuring hypoxia-induced RNA in maternal blood: A new way to identify critically hypoxic fetuses in utero?

CL Whitehead, S Tong

2014-01-01

Severe fetal hypoxia causes stillbirth and permanent childhood disability. Unfortunately, none of the current tests is precise at ..

Circulating microRNAs in maternal blood as potential biomarkers for fetal hypoxia in-utero

CL Whitehead, WT Teh, SP Walker, C Leung, L Larmour, S Tong

2013-11-25

Stillbirth affects 1 in 200 pregnancies and commonly arises due to a lack of oxygen supply to the fetus. Current tests to detect f..

Circulating RNA coding genes regulating apoptosis in maternal blood in severe early onset fetal growth restriction and pre-eclampsia

CL Whitehead, SP Walker, M Lappas, S Tong

2013-08-01

Objective:To determine whether the intrinsic apoptosis pathway is differentially expressed in placenta and maternal blood in sever..

Quantifying circulating hypoxia-induced RNA transcripts in maternal blood to determine in utero fetal hypoxic status

C Whitehead, WT Teh, SP Walker, C Leung, S Mendis, L Lamour, S Tong

2013-07-08

Background: Hypoxia in utero can lead to stillbirth and severe perinatal injury. While current prenatal tests can identify fetuses..

Placental specific mRNA in the maternal circulation are globally dysregulated in pregnancies complicated by fetal growth restriction

CL Whitehead, SP Walker, L Ye, S Mendis, TJ Kaitu'u-Lino, M Lappas, S Tong

2013-03-01

Context: Fetal growth restriction (FGR) is a leading cause of perinatal mortality, yet no reliable screening test exists. Placenta..

Quantifying mRNA coding growth genes in the maternal circulation to detect fetal growth restriction

CL Whitehead, SP Walker, S Mendis, M Lappas, S Tong

2013-01-01

Objective: To examine whether mRNA circulating in maternal blood coding genes regulating fetal growth are differentially expressed..

University of Melbourne Researchers

Stephen Tong

Susan Walker

Joanne Said