Placental Imaging Project (PiP)

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Structure and function of the placenta from implantation to delivery: a next generation MRI approach

• IRAS ID

  201609

• Contact name

  Mary Rutherford

• Contact email

  mary.rutherford@kcl.ac.uk

• Sponsor organisation

  King's College London

• Duration of Study in the UK

  3 years, 0 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  The long term goal of this project is to develop four Magnetic Resonance (MR) methods to assess placental structure, microstructure and function throughout pregnancy. We would like to combine these into one complete MR examination for pregnant women which will include continuous fetal ECG recordings. This new method will be compared to current methods (i.e. ultrasound, velocimetry (Blood flow) and serum markers)
  Specific aims are:
  • To apply and improve the following techniques: separate microstructure assessment based on diffusion imaging, MR elastography and MR susceptibility and hyperoxia for placenta imaging so that each is capable of providing sensitive and reliable information.
  • To use this approach to identify differences in placental structure and function across gestation; between normal pregnancies and those at high risk of obstetric syndromes, considered to be secondary to inadequate placental implantation, fetal growth restriction and preeclampsia; and in women with a high BMI >30kg/mm2.
  • To increase these individual methods within a motion correction framework to produce a combined MR examination that takes no longer than 60 minute’s scanning time.
  • To combine highly detailed MRI examination of the placenta with an indirect measure of placental function provided by assessment of fetal heart rate variability. The latter can be determined using overnight continuous fetal ECG, which can be obtained more frequently during progression of an at-risk pregnancy.
  • To validate our approach against placental histology and pregnancy outcomes

  The project will deliver a new capability to assess and monitor the placenta in at-risk pregnancies. As obesity rates continue to rise, there will be an increasing burden of such pregnancies and an increasing benefit to society from managing these pregnancies more effectively based on more robust, detailed and comprehensive information.

• REC name

  London - Fulham Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  16/LO/1573

• Date of REC Opinion

  23 Sep 2016

• REC opinion

  Favourable Opinion