University of Bristol

Academic Institute

OFHS260065

This project will investigate how a woman’s health before and during pregnancy influences the health of both mother and baby. Pregnancy and birth complications, including pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, miscarriage, premature birth, and poor fetal growth, affect millions of families worldwide and can have lasting consequences for both mothers and children. Despite their importance, it remains difficult to predict who is most at risk, and the underlying biological causes of many of these conditions are still poorly understood. Using large-scale health and genetic data, this study has three main aims: a) To improve prediction of pregnancy and birth complications, allowing earlier identification of women at higher risk. b) To identify factors that may help prevent or treat these complications, and improve understanding of their biological causes. c) To examine how pregnancy complications affect the short- and long-term health of mothers and children, including future risks of chronic disease. Overall, this research aims to support safer pregnancies, healthier babies, and improved long-term health for families. Pregnancy complications, such as miscarriage, preterm birth, high blood pressure, diabetes or depression during pregnancy, are common and can have serious long-term effects. However, we still have limited knowledge about how to prevent, identify, and treat these conditions. Current medical tools often fail to identify women who later develop complications, limiting opportunities for early monitoring and prevention. There are also few treatments designed specifically for pregnancy-related conditions. This is partly because pregnant women have historically been excluded from medical research, and because pregnancy conditions can be difficult to study using animal models. This research aims to improve understanding of why pregnancy complications happen and how they can be identified earlier and treated more effectively. We will combine genetic information, health measurements, and medical records from large numbers of people. The study will also examine how health before pregnancy affects pregnancy outcomes, especially among women living with long-term conditions. We will also investigate the long-term health effects of pregnancy complications on both women and children, such as heart disease, dementia, and mental health conditions. The findings could help identify pregnancies at higher risk earlier, improve prevention and treatment, and support safer pregnancies and better long-term health for women, children, and families.

Pregnancy complications affect millions of women and families worldwide. These conditions can have serious consequences not only during pregnancy, but also for the long-term health of mothers and children. Despite this, many pregnancy complications remain difficult to predict, prevent, and treat effectively. This research aims to improve pregnancy care in several ways. First, it will explore ways to identify women and babies at higher risk earlier and more accurately than at present, supporting closer monitoring and more tailored care. Second, it will look at why pregnancy complications happen, which could lead to better strategies for prevention and treatment. Third, it will examine how health before pregnancy affects pregnancy outcomes, especially for women living with long-term conditions such as obesity, diabetes, immune-related conditions, and mental health problems. Fourth, it will investigate how pregnancy complications may affect the long-term health of women and their children, such as heart disease, dementia, and mental health conditions. Together, these findings could help develop safer and more effective treatments for pregnancy-related conditions and improve guidance for women before, during, and after pregnancy. Overall, the research aims to support safer pregnancies and better health for women and their children.

Public Health Research

09/09/2026

09/07/2026

TRE