UF Health developing first treatment for significant pregnancy risk

The life of billions of people inhabiting Earth is owed to a temporary organ that supported and nourished them in a mother’s womb.

The placenta, or afterbirth, is considered sacred by some cultures, its pivotal role in pregnancy recognized as far back as the raising of Egypt’s pyramids. It provides nutrients and oxygen to the fetus via the umbilical cord, acting like a gut, kidney, liver, and lungs.

If the placenta fails, only one hazardous option remains — premature delivery through induced labor or cesarean delivery.

Now, the first therapy to potentially reverse a condition that is a significant cause of stillbirth and premature delivery around the globe is being developed by a team led by a University of Florida Health researcher who has spent 20 years studying this remarkable organ. The therapy has proved highly successful in animal studies.