Human Foetal Development
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Investigating the impact of environmental factors on human foetal development
IRAS ID
240088
Contact name
Kamal Ojha
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
St George's University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
The overall aim of this study is to determine the impact of environmental insults on foetal development by assessing transfer across the maternal-placental barrier and accumulation in foetal organs. Environmental insults encompass everything from man-made toxic pollutants to natural biohazards such as the novel coronavirus. This will be done in the comparison to normal foetal development, using tissues from conceptuses obtained during surgical termination of pregnancy. Most of the knowledge available on foetal exposure to environmental pollutants originate from studies in animals, and little is known about the foetal exposure in humans. This study will investigate if environmental pollutants and/or maternal lifestyle (e.g. smoking) have an impact on foetal development at different gestational ages; if there are differences between male and female foetuses, and to identify the gestational stage of this impact. Women undergoing termination of pregnancy (TOP) are offered the possibility to participate in the study. Informed consent is obtained and a questionnaire is filled out to assess maternal exposure environmental pollutants e.g. smoking. Blood samples are obtained to measure accurately pollutants and hormones in serum. The termination procedure is a routine clinical procedure. The conceptus obtained after TOP will be investigated in the lab and tissues/organs for analysis dissected. After sample collection the remaining tissue is processed for disposal according to standard clinical protocols.
REC name
Yorkshire & The Humber - South Yorkshire Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/YH/0265
Date of REC Opinion
9 Dec 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion