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.