Advancing the Use of Existing Imaging Tools

NICHD’s Human Placenta Project (HPP) supports the development of innovative approaches to study the placenta. Read about research groups that are adapting existing imaging techniques to evaluate placental structure and function, identify abnormalities, and more.

A pregnant woman looking at her belly in front of a window.

Assessing Placental Immune Function

Principal Investigators: Alison Cahill, M.D., MSCI; Yong Wang, Ph.D.
Organization: Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis
Research Focus: Using placental immune imaging (PII), a type of magnetic resonance imaging, to measure inflammation and immune response within the uterus to better predict preterm birth risk.

Learn more about research on using PII to assess inflammation and immune function to predict preterm birth risks.

A woman in a magnetic resonance imaging scanner.

Advancing MRI Techniques to Understand Placental

Principal Investigators: Penny Gowland, B.Sc.; Nia Jones, M.B.B.Ch., Ph.D.; Mary Rutherford, M.D., MRCPCH
Organization: Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Centre, University of Nottingham, United Kingdom
Research Focus: Advancing MRI techniques to better understand placental functioning.

Read about researchers using MRI techniques to understand the impact of placental functioning on pregnancy outcomes.

A health care provider giving a pregnant woman an ultrasound in a medical office.

Applying Computer Science to Ultrasound Screening for Placenta Disorders

Principal Investigators: Sally Louise Collins, M.D., Ph.D.; Stacy Zamudio, Ph.D.
Organization: Oxford University, Hackensack University Medical Center
Research Focus: Using computer science for ultrasound screening for placenta abnormalities

Learn about research using machine learning to create better ultrasound screening tests for placenta abnormalities.

Studying Molecular Transport and Metabolism in the Placenta

Principal Investigators: Joel Garbow, Ph.D.; Michal Neeman, Ph.D.; Tal Raz, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl. ACT
Organization: Washington University in St. Louis, Weizmann Institute of Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Research Focus: Using MRI to understand placenta function, transport, and metabolism.

Learn more about research on using MRI to understand how the placenta works.

Using Placenta MRI to Identify Risk of Adverse Pregnancy Outcome

Principal Investigator: Antonio Frias, M.D.
Organization: Oregon Health & Science University
Research Focus: Developing new MRI methods to detect and prevent complications during pregnancy.

Learn more about research on using MRI of the placenta to identify pregnancy risk.

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