Imperial Borne Uterine Mapping Project (iBUMP)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Imperial Borne (Charity) Uterine Mapping Project
IRAS ID
303970
Contact name
Phillip Bennett
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Imperial College London
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Research Summary
This study aims to determine how the uterus changes as a woman approaches and then goes into labour at term. We will collect biopsies from the uterus, and from the fetal membranes (the bag of waters that surrounds the baby) from women who are having a Caesarean section at their own request. Some of these women will go into labour before they have their Caesarean section. We will then look at the functions of all of the genes in these tissues and make comparisons between women who are and are not in labour. We will also compare samples from women having first and second pregnancies, as previous births affect the timing and progress of labour.
Summary of Results
Labour is a complex process involving signals between the mother, baby, and placenta. Although most births occur naturally, the biological triggers for labour are not fully understood. Better understanding could improve care and help prevent preterm birth, a major cause of illness in newborns.
In this pilot study, the Imperial Borne Uterine Mapping Project (iBUMP), sponsored by Imperial College London, brought together researchers from Imperial College London, the University of Cambridge, and the University College London. The team included experts in obstetrics and multiple areas of molecular science. Recruitment took place at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital and University College London Hospital. Women having planned Caesarean births (n=42) were invited to take part and were grouped by whether they were in labour or not, and whether it was their first or a subsequent baby.
Samples included uterine and placental tissue, vaginal swabs, urine, and maternal and placental blood. These were analysed using advanced methods to measure genes, proteins, fats (lipids), and other molecules. The study also tested whether this complex process of recruitment, sampling, and data analysis could be done across multiple institutions.
The study showed that this approach is feasible in a clinical setting but also revealed challenges. It was harder to recruit women in labour with subsequent babies because labour often progressed too quickly. Some measurements were also difficult to complete in real time, such as immune cell profiling requiring immediate blood processing.
Despite these challenges, high-quality samples and rich datasets were successfully generated. The results suggest stronger molecular changes during labour in first-time mothers compared with those who have given birth before. Different parts of the uterus also showed different responses, with the upper uterus showing the strongest changes. Early evidence suggests that changes in gene regulation may contribute to these differences, although larger studies are needed.
Overall, this study shows that combining multiple molecular data types is a powerful way to study how labour begins. These findings provide a strong foundation for future research to improve understanding of both normal and preterm labour and support more personalised maternity care.REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/LO/0569
Date of REC Opinion
9 Sep 2022
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion