Placental autoimmunity and fetal loss.
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Placental autoimmunity and fetal loss.
IRAS ID
150623
Contact name
Ian Crocker
Contact email
Research summary
The UK stillbirth rate is 1 in 200 and this has remained grossly unchanged for the last two decades.
We wish to investigate placental tissue from pregnancy losses and adverse outcomes (spontaneous preterm labour or early delivery for suspected fetal compromise) using tissue from the archives at Manchester Childrens Hospital pathology department.
We will investigate tissue from all cited placental or unexplained causes of stillbirth/miscarriage or adverse outcome (preterm labour or early delivery) to determine whether there is evidence of immune rejection of the placenta or excess immune system activity, defined by complement activity/deposition. These are important components of the immune system.
We hope this research will enable us to identify an immune basis for pregnancy loss and therefore develope a management strategy for subsequent pregnancies.
The PhD associated with this research is funded by the charity SPARKS (http://www.sparks.org.uk/)REC name
London - City & East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/LO/1352
Date of REC Opinion
30 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion