Project Grant R01HL174917

This Project Grant award from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) under the Cardiovascular Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.837) provides $1,399,182 to Brown University to conduct research on early developmental risk factors for adult coronary heart disease (CHD). The 4-year project aims to:

1. Identify which small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants are at elevated risk for later life CHD and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality, and 2) Investigate the underlying placental, fetal hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, and cardiac remodeling mechanisms that contribute to increased CHD risk in certain SGA infants. The research will leverage the New England Family Study cohort, with comprehensive clinical assessments of approximately 800 SGA infants and analysis of maternal and fetal biomarkers related to placental function, hypoxia, and metabolic programming. This project aims to advance prevention efforts through earlier identification and targeted interventions for high-risk SGA infants.