# Placental origins of phthalate-induced changes in fetal reproductive development

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2022 · $29,057

## Abstract

Summary/Abstract: During pregnancy, the maternal brain and the fetal-placental unit are connected by way
of an understudied hypothalamic-pituitary-placental (HPP) axis. This axis may shed light on the differential
effects of stress exposure on maternal and fetal well-being complementing what we already know about the
hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The COVID-19 pandemic has aggravated the chronic maternal
stressors arising from structural racism and discrimination in the U.S., and has also heightened disparities in
food insecurity and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Stress and adversity in pregnancy not only increase risks of
preterm birth, growth restriction and infant mortality, but they also heighten risk of postpartum maternal
mortality and morbidity too (i.e., diabetes, heart disease, depression). The goal of this project is to expand the
definition of maternal environment in our current R01 (ES029336-04) to include structural racism and
discrimination (SRD), SARS-CoV-2 infection, and consumption of processed food and take-out meals as a
function of heightened food insecurity. Likewise, we will expand our outcomes to include pregnancy outcomes
and measures of maternal postpartum health. The primary biologic mediator in our project is placental human
chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), which we will use to explain pathways from the maternal prenatal environment
(i.e. COVID-19 and SRD) to maternal health outcomes in the postpartum period. This proposal is a supplement
to a funded project that evaluates the role of the placenta in mediating the effects of phthalates on fetal
reproductive system development in early human pregnancy. In the proposed supplement, a doctoral student
in Epidemiology who is a member of an underrepresented group in science will 1) complete required
coursework for the Epidemiology doctoral program; 2) conduct laboratory research in placental biomarkers;
and 3) develop a dissertation project on theoretical, practical, and analytical aspects of public health
intervention. While fulfilling the above aims, the candidate will also help to complete the Aims of the R01 and
the competing revision of the R01. As part of this doctoral training, the scholar will increase knowledge and
skills in environmental health, epidemiology, causal inference, and high dimensional analyses. This will
prepare her to enter the scientific work force as a productive and independent researcher.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10449682
- **Project number:** 3R01ES029336-04S2
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Jennifer Joan Adibi
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $29,057
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-02-02 → 2023-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10449682

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10449682, Placental origins of phthalate-induced changes in fetal reproductive development (3R01ES029336-04S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10449682. Licensed CC0.

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