Current Research Studies
In order to help us better understand the causes of stillbirth, fetal loss, and miscarriages, we offer several studies you may participate in. Below is just a few of our current studies, we have several more and we frequently start new studies, please check back often to see the updated content.
If you are a researcher or healthcare professional interested in working with us on collaborative research, please contact us at 801-587-0975.
TRIO
The University of Utah is looking for participants in a clinical research study that looks at a specific genetic sequence, called TRIO, in families who have experienced two or more fetal losses or stillbirths.
• Have you experienced two or more pregnancy losses that occurred over the gestational age of 12 weeks or higher?
• Were these losses unexplained?
• Would you and your family (father of children/losses, and all living siblings) be willing to have a saliva swab or sample taken?
If you answered yes to the above criteria and you would like to participate or have questions please call 801-587-0975 or email Sarah Lopez, Stillbirth CRC at sarah.lopez@hsc.utah.edu.
To further summarize the study, we will take a saliva sample or blood sample from the mother, father, and all siblings. We will also collect your previous tissue samples from your prior losses (the hospital that you delivered at should keep these, but our study team can verify this.) We would need you to sign a release of information so we can obtain your previous delivery records of your losses to verify the age at the time of loss, and we would ask you some basic information about you and your pregnancies. We are offering to give you the results of the DNA testing if you and your family would like it, but you are more than welcome to opt-out of this portion.
Whole Genome Sequencing of Isolated and Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (Sporadic Pregnancy Loss)
The University of Utah is looking for participants in a research study that will gather information and tissue samples to further investigate why pregnancy loss occurs.
• Have you experienced a Pregnancy Loss or Miscarriage under 19.6 weeks gestation?
• Would you be willing to sign a release of information so we may obtain your medical records and tissue samples if available?
• Would you be willing to get a blood draw or give a saliva sample for you and your family?
If you answered yes to the above criteria and you would like to participate or have questions please call 801-587-0975 or email Sarah Lopez, Stillbirth CRC at sarah.lopez@hsc.utah.edu.
To further summarize the study, we will access your medical health information and records in regards to your losses and pregnancy history, we will add this to our database that is de-identified. We will collect a blood or saliva sample from you, the father of the pregnancy, and any living siblings of the pregnancy. We will then collect tissue samples from your previous losses. We will run DNA sequencing on all of these samples to see if there is any genetic causes to pregnancy loss.
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss (RPL) Database
The University of Utah is looking for participants in a research study that banks information and tissue samples to further investigate why recurrent pregnancy loss occurs.
• Have you experienced any of the following?
o One or more Stillbirths (greater than 20.0 weeks gestation)?
o Two or more miscarriages or fetal losses (first or second trimester losses)? *Note, these do not have to be consecutive losses.
• Would you be willing to sign a release of information so we may obtain your medical records?
If you answered yes to the above criteria and you would like to participate or have questions please call 801-587-0975 or email Sarah Lopez, Stillbirth CRC at sarah.lopez@hsc.utah.edu.
To further summarize the study, we will access your medical health information and records in regards to your losses and pregnancy history, we will add this to our database that is de-identified. We can also collect some maternal blood if you are willing to, you can opt-out of this portion if you would like, however. We can do over the phone consenting if you do not want to travel to the University as well.
Prospective/Retrospective Stillbirth Database and Tissue Banking
The University of Utah is looking for participants in a research study that banks information and tissue
samples to further investigate why stillbirths occur.
• Have you experienced a stillbirth or fetal loss that occurred after 16.0 weeks gestation and would like to participate in research?
• Would you be willing to sign a release of information so we may obtain your medical records?
If you answered yes to the above criteria and you would like to participate or have questions please call 801-587-0975 or email Sarah Lopez, Stillbirth CRC at sarah.lopez@hsc.utah.edu.
To further summarize the study, we will access your delivery information and records, where we will add this to our database that is de-identified. We can also collect some maternal blood, placental tissue (if it was sent to pathology after your delivery), or conduct an interview if you are willing to, you can opt-out of any portion if you would like. We can do over the phone consenting if you do not want to travel to the University.