In 2009, the March of Dimes invested $20.3 million in research to prevent birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. Areas of investigation included developmental biology, genetics and prevention of premature birth.
Some 25 percent of women of childbearing age are obese and face special health risks during pregnancy (such as high blood pressure and diabetes). The March of Dimes co-sponsored an Institute of Medicine study that led to new weight-gain guidelines. Obese moms-to-be should limit their weight gain in pregnancy to 11 to 20 pounds (compared to 25 to 35 pounds for women of normal weight). This will help mom and baby stay healthy.
Children of obese women are at risk for weight problems of their own. March of Dimes grantees aim to break the cycle of obesity. Richard Simerly, PhD, of the University of California, Los Angeles, is investigating how Mom’s weight can contribute to obesity in her children. Ho Yi Mak, PhD, of Stowers Institute of Medicine in Kansas City, Missouri, is trying to identify genes that regulate fat storage and learn how abnormalities in these genes contribute to obesity. This could lead to new treatments to prevent obesity, help moms have healthy babies and, potentially, lead to healthier lives for future generations.
Many researchers are studying why the uterus stays quiet for 9 months in a normal, healthy pregnancy, and contracts too soon in others. For example, Jennifer Condon, PhD, a March of Dimes Prematurity Research Initiative grantee at the University of Pittsburgh, is investigating whether an early drop in the enzyme (protein) caspase-3 levels triggers labor. If so, it may be possible to develop methods to regulate enzyme levels and help women carry to term.
Babies born too soon often have immature lungs and severe breathing problems. Some preemies are treated with drugs called corticosteroids, which, along with other treatments, can help them breathe easier. Although these drugs can save a baby’s life, they also pose a risk for brain damage and cerebral palsy, a group of conditions affecting movement. A study in mice by grantee David H. Rowitch, MD, PhD, University of California at San Francisco, found that some corticosteroid drugs interact with certain genes that regulate brain development after birth. Other corticosteroids do not interfere with brain development, and a simple change in drug choice may help prevent brain damage in premature babies.
Healthy weight, healthy baby?
