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Is placental ageing the key to predicting and preventing stillbirth?

A study into biochemical markers in a pregnant mother’s bloodstream that may indicate an aging placenta. 

  • Brief

    A study into biochemical markers in a pregnant mother’s bloodstream that may indicate an aging placenta. 

  • Background

    Late term stillbirth may be caused by an aging placenta that is no longer working properly. When a placenta gets to this stage it releases biochemical markers into the mother’s bloodstream. Experts in the placenta, ageing and obstetric care of high-risk pregnancies aim to develop ways to measure how many of these markers are in the mother’s blood and develop test that can predict the risk of stillbirth due to an aging placenta.

  • More information

    Find more information about this study here.

  • Key contributors

    Research institution: Hunter Medical Research Institute, University of Newcastle
    Chief Investigator: Professor Roger Smith
    Other investigators:  Professor Jonathan Morris, Professor Robert AitkenÂ