RecruitingOBSERVATIONAL

Scottish Advanced Fetal Research Study

This research, called the Scottish Advanced Fetal Research Study, aims to understand how a baby's development in the womb can be affected by what the mother comes into contact with. This includes things like smoking, alcohol, certain medicines, and environmental factors like pollution. We know these can have long-term effects on a person's health, leading to conditions like obesity or high blood pressure later in life. However, we don't fully understand exactly how these exposures during pregnancy lead to health problems in adulthood. Researchers are studying how different organs develop in human fetuses between 7 and 20 weeks of pregnancy. The goal is to gather vital information that could help doctors find ways to reduce these harmful effects and improve health outcomes for babies as they grow up.

At a glance

Status

Recruiting

Sponsor

University of Aberdeen

Enrolment target

1,200

Start

01 May 2016

Estimated completion

01 Oct 2028

Fetal Developmental Abnormality Fetal Development Human Life Style

What is this study about?

This study is called the Scottish Advanced Fetal Research Study, or SAFeR for short. Its main aim is to understand how a baby develops in the womb and what might affect this development. We know that many things a pregnant woman is exposed to, such as smoking, alcohol, some medications, or even pollution, can have an impact on her baby. These influences can start early in pregnancy and potentially affect a person's health throughout their life, leading to common conditions like obesity, high blood pressure, or even fertility issues in adulthood. Currently, we don't fully understand how these early life exposures connect to later health problems.

The researchers are focusing on fetuses between 7 and 20 weeks of pregnancy, a very important time for development. They are carefully examining different organs and body fluids from these fetuses, as well as collecting information about the mother's health and lifestyle. By doing this, they hope to get a much clearer picture of how a baby's body systems, like hormone production and reproductive organs, develop normally and how they might be changed by outside factors.

The overall goal of this study is to gain fundamental knowledge. This information could then help doctors develop better ways to spot issues during pregnancy and find treatments or strategies to lessen any harmful effects. Ultimately, the findings from this research are expected to be very important for future studies that aim to help everyone have better health in the long run.

Key takeaways

The study aims to understand how a baby's development in the womb is affected by things like lifestyle and environment.
Researchers are looking at fetal development between 7 and 20 weeks of pregnancy.
It could help find ways to prevent future health problems in children and adults.
Participation involves providing fetal tissues and information about the mother.
Eligible participants are pregnant women aged 16+ with no known fetal abnormalities.
The findings will contribute to better health knowledge for future generations.

Who may be eligible?

To be considered for this study, you would need to be a woman who is between 7 and 20 weeks pregnant. You must be at least 16 years old and be able to understand and make decisions about taking part.

It's important that your ultrasound scan shows no concerns with the baby's development. Also, you should be able to speak English fluently, as this helps ensure you fully understand what the study involves, especially regarding the collection of fetal tissues.

You would not be able to join the study if you are experiencing significant emotional distress or if your ultrasound scan has shown any developmental concerns with the baby.

Could this study suit you?

Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.

Are you between 7 and 20 weeks pregnant?
Are you 16 years old or older?
Has your ultrasound scan shown no problems with your baby?
Can you speak English fluently?
Are you not experiencing significant emotional distress at this time?

Answer every question to see your result.

What does participation involve?

The information provided does not detail what participation involves in terms of visits, assessments, medication, or follow-up for a living participant. It focuses on the study of fetal tissues. It mentions that researchers will collect multiple fetal organs and body fluids, along with maternal information. The study aims to study human fetuses during a normal pregnancy and pregnancies where maternal lifestyle and environment might challenge the fetus. The exact duration of involvement for a participant is not specified beyond the 7-20 weeks of gestation criteria for the fetus.

Potential risks and benefits

The provided information does not detail direct benefits or risks for living participants in this study, as it primarily focuses on the study of collected fetal tissues. Generally, benefits in research can include contributing to scientific understanding that may help others in the future. Potential risks in medical studies can vary, but in this context, they might involve considerations around the process of tissue collection. Participants always have the right to withdraw from a study at any time without giving a reason, and this will not affect their medical care.

Locations (1)

Some site locations are approximate. We're improving this — please verify with the trial team before travelling.

University of Aberdeen
Verified postcode
Aberdeen, United Kingdom· Recruiting

Common questions

What is a 'fetal developmental abnormality'?

This simply means a problem with how a baby is growing and developing in the womb.

What does 'in-utero exposure' mean?

This refers to anything the baby in the womb is exposed to through the mother – for example, smoke, alcohol, or even certain chemicals in the environment.

Why are researchers interested in my lifestyle?

Understanding your lifestyle helps them see if there are links between what babies are exposed to during pregnancy and their future health. This is not about judging, but about learning.

What does 'fetal programming' mean?

It's the idea that experiences a baby has in the womb can 'programme' or set up how different parts of their body work, and this can affect their health later in life.

Will taking part affect my medical care?

No, your decision to take part or not will not affect the medical care you receive.

How to find out more

Paul A Fowler, PhD

p.a.fowler@abdn.ac.uk +44 1224 437528 Official trial record

Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.