NSF Org:	BCS Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences
Recipient:	TEMPLE UNIVERSITY-OF THE COMMONWEALTH SYSTEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION
Initial Amendment Date:	August 10, 2015
Latest Amendment Date:	August 10, 2015
Award Number:	1540294
Award Instrument:	Standard Grant
Program Manager:	Rebecca Ferrell rferrell@nsf.gov  (703)292-7850 BCS  Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences SBE  Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Start Date:	September 15, 2015
End Date:	August 31, 2017 (Estimated)
Total Intended Award Amount:	$31,200.00
Total Awarded Amount to Date:	$31,200.00
Funds Obligated to Date:	FY 2015 = $31,200.00
History of Investigator:	L. Christie Rockwell (Principal Investigator) lrockwel@temple.edu Kristin Almskaar (Co-Principal Investigator)
Recipient Sponsored Research Office:	Temple University 1805 N BROAD ST PHILADELPHIA PA  US  19122-6104 (215)707-7547
Sponsor Congressional District:	02
Primary Place of Performance:	Temple University-Of The Commonwealth System of Higher Education 3340 N. Broad Street Philadelphia PA  US  19140-5104
Primary Place of Performance Congressional District:	03
Unique Entity Identifier (UEI):	QD4MGHFDJKU1
Parent UEI:	QD4MGHFDJKU1
NSF Program(s):	Bio Anthro DDRI
Primary Program Source:	01001516DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
Program Reference Code(s):	1392, 9179, SMET
Program Element Code(s):	760800
Award Agency Code:	4900
Fund Agency Code:	4900
Assistance Listing Number(s):	47.075

ABSTRACT

Evolutionary tradeoffs between mother and offspring, and between reproduction and immune function, are likely to have shaped human life history. This study will investigate such tradeoffs in the context of preterm birth, which is frequently associated with mild infection and/or inflammation, suggesting that physiological compromises between reproduction and the immune system may influence gestation length. The investigators will evaluate placental characteristics, including the placental microbiome, in the context of maternal immune challenge and preterm birth. Project findings may extend current limited knowledge of the role of microbiomes in human physiology and health, specifically at the placental interface. The U.S. ranks alongside South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa in rates of preterm birth, with extreme disparities based on race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. By considering the evolutionary roots of why immune activation might compromise reproduction, this project will bring a new perspective to a persistent public health problem, and has the potential to inform community health efforts and public health policy. Other broader impacts include undergraduate training and the fostering of interdisciplinary research collaborations.

This study of U.S. women will integrate maternal condition, placental function, the placental microbiome, and gestation length within an evolutionary life history framework based on reproductive-immune trade-offs. The investigators will test two hypotheses: 1) that the placental phenotype characterized by reduced size and efficiency, and a distinct microbiome, will be associated with preterm birth, and 2) that this association will depend on maternal systemic inflammation. The results of this research will shed light on the effects of immune activation during pregnancy, and will advance evolutionary perspectives on placental microbiome function and variation, and its role in preterm birth.

PROJECT OUTCOMES REPORT

Disclaimer

This Project Outcomes Report for the General Public is displayed verbatim as submitted by the Principal Investigator (PI) for this award. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this Report are those of the PI and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation; NSF has not approved or endorsed its content.

Preterm birth is a significant public health problem in the U.S. Globally, we rank alongside South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa in rates of preterm delivery, and in some U.S. populations these rates are on the rise. Many aspects of human reproduction are sensitive to environmental changes, and we speculate that gestation length is no different – preterm birth may be an evolved response to an unsustainable pregnancy. There are many potential sources of environmental stress that might affect gestation length, but given the persistent association between preterm birth and infection/inflammation, we opted to focus on maternal immune stress.

The research supported by this award was designed to study whether preterm birth is a response to maternal immune stress. Because of its key role in pregnancy maintenance, we focused on the placenta as a site where this response might manifest as functional changes. In addition to investigating classical measures of placental function, we also investigated the role of the recently described placental microbiome (the community of bacteria found in placental tissue). The results of our research gave us new insights into the relationship between maternal immune stress, placental biology, and gestation length. In particular, we learned how the placental microbiome differs in term and preterm pregnancies, adding to our understanding of placental biology and its role in pregnancy maintenance.

Through this investigation of preterm birth, we have expanded knowledge on the relationship between inflammation and length of gestation. We have also highlighted the potential for microbiome science to extend our understanding of human reproductive biology and health. In addition, this project brings a new perspective to a persistent public health problem. Our research may inform public health interventions aimed at preventing/reducing maternal immune stress, and it highlights the potential for future interdisciplinary research collaborations between anthropology, public health, and microbiome science.

Last Modified: 11/27/2017
Modified by: Kristin Almskaar

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