Tuesday, 20 September 2022
Researchers from the University of Nottingham have been awarded funding for a project that aims to cut the number of stillbirths by examining blood flow through the placenta.
Every 16 seconds one baby is stillborn, this amounts to more than two million stillborn babies globally every year. Researchers from the University of Nottingham will be joining Wellcome Leap’s In Utero programme, which aims to measure, model and predict gestational development using the latest methods and techniques.
One third of stillbirths are related to problems with the placenta. In the past there has been lots of work studying the blood flow into the placenta from the mother with little consideration given to the importance of how blood moves back out of the placenta, despite this being critical for the circulation and uniform flow of maternal blood around the placental villous trees which contain the baby’s blood; exchange of oxygen and nutrients from mother to baby occur here.
MRI of whole placenta showing maternal blood oxygenation & flow, image of placental villous trees which contain the baby’s blood and mathematical modelling of venous return.
The researchers are focusing on this venous return, particularly the effects of the newly discovered placental contractions which periodically refresh the blood within the placenta. Problems here will affect baby’s well-being.
Dr Nia Jones, Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Nottingham
Dr Nia Jones, Associate Professor in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the University of Nottingham explained: ‘Stillbirth is a devastating outcome for families and if there are safe tests that we can develop to identify pregnancies at risk and allow close surveillance and timely delivery this would be very welcome progress in care for both clinicians and families.’
Dr Lopa Leach, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Vascular Biology, University of Nottingham
Dr Lopa Leach, Associate Professor of Anatomy and Vascular Biology added: “I am pleased that we can look at the venous return of maternal blood from placental “lakes” where exchange occurs. This is an overlooked yet crucial part of the mother-fetus circulation and a hugely important piece of the jigsaw in understanding placental biology.”
The multidisciplinary research team involves obstetricians, biologists, physicists, engineers, computer scientists and mathematicians from both the University of Nottingham and Nottingham Trent University.
Dr Qimei Zhang, a researcher in Nottingham Trent University’s School of Science and Technology, commented: “We expect that our new optical fibre based maternal monitor will help healthcare providers to bring reassurance to many expecting families in the future.”
Penny Gowland, Professor of Physics, University of Nottingham, said: ‘I am delighted that we have been selected to be part of the Wellcome Leap In Utero programme. I have always been fascinated by the placenta and I am so pleased that we will be using MRI to help to address this very important problem.’
Professor of Physics Penny Gowland, University of Nottingham
Story credits
More information is available from Professor Penny Gowland on penny.gowland@nottingham.ac.uk
Notes to editors:
About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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