Clinical Research Directory

Characterization of Placental Diffusion

DW-MRI Allows a quantitative comparison of diffusion as an expression of tissue hypoxia. The investigators aim is to compare changes in placental diffusion in pregnant women with uncontrolled diabetes compared to healthy pregnant women using DW-MRI. The investigators hypothesize that placentas of diabetic mothers will show lower diffusion / perfusion compared to placentas of healthy women.

Effects of Tuberculosis Infection on Development and Function of the Placenta

The goal of this observational study is to understand how tuberculosis (TB) infection impacts the function and development of the placenta, and whether TB infection can contribute to pregnancy-related disorders through effects on the placenta. The main questions it aims to answer are: * Does TB infection affect the structure of the placenta? * Does TB infection affect the function of the placenta? Pregnant women attending delivery clinics in Addis Abeba, Ethiopia, will be enrolled and classified for TB infection using a blood-based test. We will compare the following outcomes between women with TB infection and women without TB infection: * Pathological lesions of the placenta * Gene and protein expression patterns linked to pregnancy-related disorders * Infant outcome at birth and at 6 weeks after birth

Management of Early-onset Fetal Growth Restriction: Angiogenic Factors Versus Feto-placental Doppler

This is a multicentre, open-label, randomized controlled trial. A total of 340 singleton pregnancies with an EFW ≤10th percentile between 26+0 and 31+6 weeks will be recruited and randomly allocated to either the control or the intervention group. In the control group, standard Doppler-based management will be used. In the intervention group, different soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase to placental growth factor ratio (sFlt-1/PlGF) cutoffs will be incorporated to the current protocol to adjust the frequency of ultrasounds and to plan elective delivery.

Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: "Placental-maternal Crosstalk and Future Health"

The GaP study is designed to close important knowledge gaps by: 1. exploring placental health and cellular ageing in GDM and the association with neonatal outcome 2. evaluating the effectiveness of current and novel maternal health follow-up strategies after GDM