Fetal Medicine

Research in Fetal Medicine

The Fetal Medicine team members are very active in both clinical and bench research and are frequent presenters at national meetings. We have a broad range of on-going research projects
and members of our team regularly present their research at national and international meetings,
such as the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM), International Fetal Medicine and Surgery Society (IFMSS), International Society of Ultrasound
in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), the Society
for Gynecologic Investigation (SGI) and the world congress of the Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF). 

Past important research projects:

FASTER (First and second trimester evailation of risk for anepolidy): This important study has been a milestone in non-invasive screening for chromosomal problems in early pregnancy. Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine and several additional publications in other journals.

Clinical experience with Non-Invasive Prenatal Screening: Demonstrating the success of this non-invasive technology in the routine practice. Results were published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology

PROCHIEVE study: Demonstrating the benefits of progesterone for the prevention of Preterm delivery.  Results published in the journal of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Chromosomal microarray versus karyotyping for prenatal diagnosis: Demonstrating the advantages of chromosomal microarray in improving detection of genetic syndromes especially in cases of fetal anomalies.  Results were published in the New England Journal of Medicine

Current ongoing studies:

The SMART (SNP- based Microdeletion and Aneuploidy RegistTry) study: A multicenter study to assess prevalence of the 22q11 microdeletion syndrome (DiGeorge) and NIPS performance for prenatal screening for this syndrome

Fetoscopic Surgery for the management of Twin-Twin Transfusion Syndrome: to assess performance utilizing the Solomon technique

Sonographic, laboratory and histologic assessment of the uterine scar: implications for early screening for pregnancy Morbidly Adherent Placenta (MAP): Placenta accrete is one of the most severe complications in patients who had a prior cesarean delivery. This study will assess criteria for early detection of the complication

Epigenetic Dysregulation and Fetal Origins of Age-Related Diseases: This research focuses on understanding the mechanism by which maternal nutrition and exercise during pregnancy ultimately affects the long-term health of the developing child to identify strategies to prevent or ameliorate early progression of age-related diseases.

Sexual Dimorphism in Offspring Exposed to Adverse Maternal Diet Mediated by Modifications in DNA Methylation: Focusing on sexual differences, in response to maladaptive intrauterine conditions that ultimately lead to premature aging, may provide sex specific biomarkers to help identify infants at higher risk for chronic diseases later in life.

Ductus Arteriosus changes with gestational age: to assess the in-utero normal changes in one of the most important shunts in the fetal circulation

The PERFECT study (PAP for Evaluation and REtrieval of fetal Cells Trial): Assessing improvement of screening for fetal genetics conditions by assessing fetal cells retrieved from the maternal cervical canal.
Sleep apnea in the obese gravida and perinatal outcome: To assess the impact of sleep apnea in obese patients on fetal growth and other perinatal outcome parameters

Sonographic evaluation of 3-dimensional inter-villus blood flow as a marker of impending preeclampsia: A new technology for improving early detection of preeclampsia

Universal screening or short cervix at routine anatomy sonogram: To assess changes in detection of patients at risk for preterm birth and their outcome

Epigenetic Modifications Associated with Abnormal Growth In Utero: To study the effect of the intra uterine environment on the genetic structure of the growth restricted fetus

Prediction of intrauterine growth restriction: Prenatal stratification of risk factors associated with undiagnosed growth restriction