New MRI technique peers into the placenta to uncover Obesity's hidden impact on pregnancy
NCT ID NCT06314009
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study will use a special type of MRI (fMRI) to measure blood flow and oxygen levels in the placenta during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Researchers want to see if these measurements differ between women who were obese before pregnancy and those with a normal weight. The goal is to better understand how obesity may affect the placenta and pregnancy outcomes.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors better understand how obesity affects the placenta during pregnancy, potentially leading to earlier detection of complications.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-stage observational study (30 people) that only measures differences—it does not test a treatment. Results may not apply to all pregnancies.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 30 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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May 2024
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
Pregnant people at 20-24 weeks gestation. 15 obese (OB) women and 15 normal weight (NW) will be recruited to participate in the study. OB is defined as pre-pregnancy body mass index greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2, and NW is defined as pre-pregnancy body mass index between 18.5-24.9 kg/m2 without comorbidities.
- Ages
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18 to 60 years
- Sex
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Female participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Singleton pregnancy, less than 24 weeks gestation * Pre-pregnancy BMI between 18.5 - 24.9kg/m2 or ≥30kg/m2 Exclusion Criteria: * Asthma on controller medication * Autoimmune Conditions * Chronic Hypertension * Claustrophobia * Congenital Anomaly * Pregestational Diabetes * History of Bariatric Surgery * HIV * Ineligible for MRI (incompatible implanted medical device) * Multifetal Gestation * Smoking during pregnancy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Endeavor Health
RECRUITINGEvanston, Illinois, 60201, United States
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