Researchers at the National Serum Institute (SSI) in Denmark are currently engaged in an ambitious research project analyzing 6000 blood samples from 240 pregnant women to gain new insights into the duration and timing of pregnancy. The project, entitled “Biological Signals in Pregnancy,” aims to identify the genes and proteins that play a crucial role in the successful conclusion of a healthy pregnancy. The researchers have been collecting blood samples every week from the participating women, starting from the 12th week of pregnancy and continuing through childbirth.
This extensive data collection gives the researchers a unique opportunity to study the biological processes that regulate both early and late births. Senior researcher Heather Boyd explains that the purpose of the study is to understand the precise biological mechanisms that lead to a healthy and on-time pregnancy conclusion. “By understanding these processes, we also hope to explain why some women give birth prematurely or go past their due date,” says Boyd.
Previous stages of the project have already shown promising results. The researchers have identified significant differences in the substances that can be measured in the blood at different points during pregnancy. These differences could potentially be used to estimate a woman’s stage of pregnancy without the need for ultrasound scans, which could be particularly useful in parts of the world where such facilities are not available.
“Our results could ultimately revolutionize the way healthcare professionals determine the length of pregnancy, thereby improving predictability and safety during childbirth globally,” adds Boyd. The project was initiated before the COVID-19 pandemic and was temporarily paused during the outbreak. It has now been resumed with new resources and a new project leader who will oversee the further analysis of the collected blood samples. It has not yet been disclosed when the researchers expect to present the final results of their study.