# Modeling cardiovascular function in pregnancy

> **NIH NIH R21** · OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY · 2024 · $239,020

## Abstract

Maternal cardiovascular and hemodynamic adaptations during pregnancy are critical for accommodation, growth
and development of the placenta and fetus. Insufficient changes in cardiovascular function can lead to pregnancy
complications including hypertension and represent a major risk for maternal and fetal health. The causes and
mechanisms leading to maladaptations are not entirely understood. We aim to develop a dynamical model of
cardiovascular function throughout pregnancy that will serve as a tool to aid understanding of cardiovascular
adaptations and maladaptations in pregnancy and guide development of personalized therapeutic interventions.
 Dynamical modeling uses differential equations to describe the behavior of a system, and in contrast to statistical
modeling allows computation of the outcomes of experiments that are significantly different from the ones used to build
the model. The model's initial conditions and parameters are determined by patient's phenotype and genetic makeup,
and by varying them one can simulate a wide variety of patients. A virtual patient's development can be analyzed
through numerical solution of the model equations. The impact of risk factors, individual treatments, and combined
effect of treatments aimed at various therapeutic targets are simulated through proper modifications of the equations
and parameters. Therefore, dynamical modeling is a perfect tool for development of personalized treatments. It has
been successfully applied to research of cancer, diabetes, arthritis, stroke, metabolic, hematologic, and autoimmune
diseases. However, to date there is no dynamical model of cardiovascular adaptations throughout pregnancy.
 We aim to fill this gap by developing such a model based on synergy and integration of fluid dynamics,
biomechanics, mathematical modeling, and simulation. We will first develop a compartmental non-pulsatile model of
circulatory patterns in major organs and vessels, including the uterus, and their changes throughout pregnancy. This
approach provides flexibility, mathematical convenience, and accommodates required features. Then we will test and
refine the model by simulating physiological changes known to be associated with pregnancy hypertension and known
therapeutic interventions that alleviate the hypertension. Finally, we will perform sensitivity analysis to make the model
parsimonious and to gain insights into the order of significance of various pathophysiological mechanisms and the
relative potential of various therapeutic interventions.
 In the future, the model may be used for in silico testing of novel therapeutic targets, management strategies, risk
assessment, modeling of O2 and nutrient supply to the fetus, and combined effect of a patient's characteristics leading
to development of hypertension, even when each individual characteristic is in the normal range. Innovation lies in
integration of existing knowledge and previously developed models of individual organs and their...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904576
- **Project number:** 1R21HD112740-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** OREGON HEALTH & SCIENCE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** LESLIE MYATT
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $239,020
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-04-01 → 2026-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904576

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904576, Modeling cardiovascular function in pregnancy (1R21HD112740-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904576. Licensed CC0.

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