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Scottish Advanced Fetal Research Study

NCT04613583 · Status: RECRUITING · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 1200

Last updated 2026-05-05

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

In-utero exposure to drugs and chemicals through maternal smoking, alcohol use, drug abuse, prescription medicines and occupational/lifestyle exposures is widespread. Such exposures can alter fetal development and programming, leading to the effects becoming "locked in" from birth and causing long-term adverse consequences for the individual. These include costly and widespread conditions such as obesity, hypertension, metabolic syndrome and infertility. The weight of evidence linking these conditions to fetal recreational drug or environmental chemical exposures, including cigarettes, alcohol, air pollution, food contact materials, is overwhelming. What is lacking is an understanding of how fetal drug exposure translates to adult ill-health and this is due, largely, to an inability to study the problem directly in affected human fetuses. The investigators, and others, have shown that human fetal development, which lays the foundations of adult health and function (fetal programming), is quite different from the rodent and frequently exhibits surprising aspects. It has become evident that the close interconnectivity of the developing fetal organs and also the placenta, means that a much more holistic approach to research aiming to understand human fetal development and the challenges posed to programming for a health adulthood is critical. To that end the investigators have established a carefully considered gestational age range (7-20 weeks of gestation) of fetuses we can study together with multiple fetal organs and body fluids collected and maternal information recorded.

The overarching objective of the study is to intensively and systematically study the human fetus during a normal pregnancy and pregnancies where aspects of maternal lifestyle and environment will challenge the fetus. The investigators aim to provide fundamental information to better understand the mechanisms involved and to detect and treat or ameliorate adverse effects during pregnancy (such as maternal smoking/drinking, deprivation, exposure to pollution). In the long term findings from this research will be important for future studies aimed at enabling better health in later life.

Conditions

  • Fetal Developmental Abnormality
  • Fetal Development
  • Human
  • Life Style

Interventions

OTHER

SAFeR fetuses

NO active intervention performed.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • NHS Grampian

    collaborator OTHER_GOV

  • University of Aberdeen

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Paul A Fowler, PhD · University of Aberdeen

Eligibility

Min Age
16 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-05-01
Primary Completion
2028-10-01
Completion
2028-10-01

Countries

  • United Kingdom

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT04613583 on ClinicalTrials.gov