UCLA receives $4.2M from NIH to Study Placental Development

During pregnancy, much of a fetus’ development is contingent on the condition and function of the placenta. It is responsible for the transmission of substances from mother to child that are critical to early development, including blood, oxygen and nutrients, without which the fetus could not exist. Sometimes, however, environmental effects can cause deficiencies in the placenta, which can lead to harmful side effects such as preterm birth or even death.

Fortunately, research is currently being conducted at UCLA in order to understand the mechanisms by which placental development is affected by outside factors.  A team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles has received recent funding for their study of the effects of environmental pollution on pregnancy.

The $4.2 million grant, which was awarded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), builds upon previous awards to support the team’s efforts to determine how air pollution negatively impacts the development of the placenta in pregnant women.

The team of UCLA scientists is headed up by Dr. Sherin Devaskar, the Mattel Executive Endowed Chair of the department of pediatrics at Mattel Children’s Hospital UCLA.

The award comes as a part of the NIH’s Human Placenta Project, the main goal of which is to facilitate better understanding of placental development through the creation of better diagnostics and tools for monitoring this critical stage.

In addition to this study, scientists from UCLA regularly receive funding for ongoing medical and life science research projects.

Recent funding statistics from UCLA:

• UCLA was awarded  $1.03 billion for life science research in FY 2014
• UCLA is home to 290 leading medical facilities and over 370 research departments
• Research projects at UCLA received over $370 million (to-date) from the NIH in 2014

These figures make the University of California, Los Angeles one of the best marketplaces in the life science industry for the sale of lab equipment and supplies.

Biotechnology Calendar, Inc. will be hosting the Semiannual Biotechnology Vendor Showcase™ event on campus at UCLA on April 28^th, 2016 and again on October 20th, 2016.

Last year, the Biotechnology Vendor Showcase™ Events at the University of California, Los Angeles attracted a total of 1105 attendees between both events. Of these attendees, 287 were purchasing agents, professors and post docs, and 141 were lab managers. These attendees came from 39 different research buildings and 66 on-campus departments.

If your company would like to participate in the $1 billion annual research marketplace at UCLA, consider attending the Semiannual Biotechnology Vendor Showcase™ event. For more information, click below:

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