Investigation on heat exposure-associated adverse pregnancy outcomes

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Elucidation of the molecular mechanism of spontaneous preterm birth and low birth weight due to maternal exposure to extreme temperature during pregnancy

• IRAS ID

  361300

• Contact name

  Dilly OC Anumba

• Contact email

  d.o.c.anumba@sheffield.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  The University of Sheffield

• Duration of Study in the UK

  2 years, 11 months, 31 days

• Research summary

  There is strong evidence that extreme temperatures, like heatwaves and high ambient temperatures, during pregnancy can have negative effects on a pregnancy. These include preterm birth (born too early), stillbirths, and low birth weight. More than one million babies die every year globally because they are born too early, aparticularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), including sub-Saharan Africa.

  Despite evidence from various population-based studies, we do not understand how extreme temperatures lead to these problems. By studying the placenta (the organ that feeds the baby during pregnancy) and maternal blood, we will shed light on the genetic and molecular changes in the placenta and maternal blood that may lead to preterm birth and low birth weight when pregnant women are exposed to extreme heat.
  
  This study will be conducted on pregnant women residing in South Yorkshire in the UK and Kano in Northern Nigeria. We will collect placentas and blood samples from the women who deliver preterm and term at each centre, during the hot and cold months of the year. Pregnant women aged ≥18 years at high risk of premature birth (because of a hisstory of preterm birth), and carrying singleton pregnancies without additional complications, will be enrolled for the study. We will collect their placenta and blood at delivery aand examine them using using various molecular methods to look at the expression of genes and proteins which may contribute to heat-associated preterm birth and low birth weight.

  Our work will enable us to understand how extreme temperatures lead to preterm birth and low birth weight. This knowledge may also identify predictive biomarkers, and possibly new therapies, to prevent the adverse efffects of high temepreatures and climate change on pregnancy outcomes.

• REC name

  North East - Newcastle & North Tyneside 2 Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  26/NE/0032

• Date of REC Opinion

  6 Mar 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion