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Researching Climate’s Impact on Pregnancy

The HEAPO project investigates biological mechanisms behind heat-related pregnancy complications.

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The HEAPO study utilises a prospective cohort design, monitoring pregnant women across diverse climatic zones to correlate specific heat-stress events with biological markers of placental health and maternal wellbeing.

Research Methodology

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We integrate high-resolution environmental temperature mapping with next generation sequencing for genetic and epigenetic analysis of placental tissue and protein profiling from blood samples, providing a comprehensive data foundation for understanding climate-driven pregnancy risks.

Key Findings

2025
Summer heat effects on placental gene expression in UK women

•  Heat exposure during pregnancy was associated with changes in placental gene expression. 
•  48 genes were differently expressed in preterm placentas during warmer vs. colder months. 
•  Most of these genes were related to inflammation, including cytokines and chemokines. 
•  17 signalling pathways were enriched, including: 
•    NF-κB 
•    IL-17 
•    Toll-like receptor 
•    Chemokine signalling

Paper link
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