# Maternal Chorioamnionitis and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: The MATCH Study

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO · 2023 · $173,190

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a severe neurologic syndrome affecting more than 12,000 newborns
in the United States each year. HIE results in death or neurodevelopmental disabilities in about half of affected
neonates. The causes of HIE are heterogeneous and poorly understood. Chorioamnionitis, or intrauterine
infection/inflammation, gives rise to a fetal inflammatory response syndrome that may reduce a fetus’ ability to
tolerate hypoxia-ischemia during delivery. Chorioamnionitis has been associated with a 4-fold increased risk of
HIE, and may also reduce the efficacy of therapeutic hypothermia, the only available therapy for HIE. However,
chorioamnionitis is an imprecise clinical diagnosis that refers to a spectrum of conditions. Clinical evidence of
inflammation (“clinical chorioamnionitis”) during labor and delivery relies on the presence of maternal fever which
is non-specific. Fever occurs in 5% of laboring mothers and can be caused by other factors such as epidural
analgesia. A better understanding of the relationship between chorioamnionitis, maternal fever and HIE is crucial
to improving our ability to prevent and treat HIE. A recent NICHD consensus report recommended a more precise
definition of clinical chorioamnionitis (“Chorio-NICHD”) based on specific cut-offs for maternal temperature,
maternal white cell count, and fetal tachycardia. But how Chorio-NICHD relates to HIE risk is unknown. Whether
the presence of Chorio-NICHD reduces the neuroprotective effect of therapeutic hypothermia has also not been
studied. To fill these gaps in knowledge, I will test the hypothesis that Chorio-NICHD is independently associated
with a higher risk of HIE in the child, and is associated with increased risk of HIE brain injury despite treatment
with therapeutic hypothermia. By leveraging a large birth cohort with rich data spanning perinatal, neonatal, and
childhood periods, I will: 1. Quantify the association between Chorio-NICHD, including clinical features such as
height and duration of maternal fever, degree of leukocytosis, and degree of fetal tachycardia, and HIE.
2. Determine if chorioamnionitis defined by clinical or histologic criteria is associated with severity of MRI brain
injury in neonates with HIE treated with therapeutic hypothermia. 3. Quantify the association between Chorio-
NICHD and childhood neurodevelopmental impairment. As a neonatologist and clinical researcher, my career
objective is to become an independent physician-epidemiologist generating actionable evidence that optimizes
diagnosis and treatment of neonatal brain disorders. With this K23, I will pursue advanced training in neonatal
brain disease epidemiology, develop skills in electronic health data management and longitudinal data analyses.
I will receive training in the analysis of neonatal brain MRI findings and placental histology. This career award,
with its rigorous training program and outstanding mentorship team, will allow me to becom...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10670862
- **Project number:** 5K23HD109684-02
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO
- **Principal Investigator:** Marie Cornet
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2023
- **Award amount:** $173,190
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2022-08-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10670862

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10670862, Maternal Chorioamnionitis and Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy: The MATCH Study (5K23HD109684-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10670862. Licensed CC0.

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