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)

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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..

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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

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

Clare L Whitehead, Helen McNamara, Susan P Walker, Maria Alexiadis, Peter J Fuller, Daniel K Vickers, Natalie J Hannan, Roxanne Hastie, Laura Tuohey, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino, Stephen Tong

2016-04-01

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

Clare L Whitehead, Stephen Tong

2014-06-01

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

Clare Whitehead, Wan Tinn Teh, Susan P Walker, Cheryl Leung, Sonali Mendis, Luke Larmour, Stephen Tong

2013-12-08

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Circulating MicroRNAs in Maternal Blood as Potential Biomarkers for Fetal Hypoxia In-Utero

Clare L Whitehead, Wan Tinn Teh, Susan P Walker, Cheryl Leung, Luke Larmour, Stephen Tong

2013-11-25

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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

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

Clare L Whitehead, Susan P Walker, Sonali Mendis, Martha Lappas, Stephen Tong

2013-08-01

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Placental Specific mRNA in the Maternal Circulation Are Globally Dysregulated in Pregnancies Complicated by Fetal Growth Restriction

Clare L Whitehead, Susan P Walker, Louie Ye, Sonali Mendis, Tu'uhevaha J Kaitu'u-Lino, Martha Lappas, Stephen Tong

2013-03-01