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The Impact of Transgenerational Racial Trauma on Epigenetic Modifications in the Mother-Infant Dyad during Pregnancy. Comparisons Between Caucasian and African American Populations

Award Number: R01MD017690
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/25/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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The Impact of Transgenerational Racial Trauma on Epigenetic Modifications in the Mother-Infant Dyad during Pregnancy. Comparisons Between Caucasian and African American Populations - Project Summary Structural racism and discrimination (SRD) have remained a historical legacy of the U.S. from the beginning of enslavement of African populations in 1619 to the era of apartheid (“Jim Crow”), which ended with the Civil and Voting Rights Acts. Hidden in plain sight is the biological impact of racial trauma. There is an increasing awareness that SRD is a salient mechanism perpetuating racial gaps in health among African Americans. In particular, studies have documented the impact of SRD on negative pregnancy outcomes, including higher rates of preterm birth among African American (AA) women and higher rates of mortality among Black mothers and infants. These racial disparities in maternal and infant health are pervasive even after accounting for socio- economic status and education; and have been shown to persist transgenerationally, possibly via epigenetic influences. In this study, we seek to investigate the impact of race and transgenerational SRD-related trauma among AA women on distinct epigenetic modifications at the maternal-fetal interface that are linked to altered immune cell development, activation, and signaling in the placenta and developing fetus. Studies suggest that the placenta may be the gateway of maternal transgenerational epigenetic inheritance. Mounting evidence suggests the effects of in utero epigenetic changes go beyond influencing the mother and the child, and are carried forward through adulthood into germline, to the detriment of successive generations. Perturbed placental epigenetics is associated with intrauterine growth restriction, preterm birth, and pre-eclampsia, which are the drivers of infant mortality among AA. Studies demonstrate race is associated with placental inflammatory pathology. In addition, high rates of stress due to transgenerational trauma have been associated with chronic inflammation at the placenta and poor pregnancy outcomes. However, the biological properties that shape disparities in pregnancy outcomes remain unknown. We hypothesize that SRD-related trauma is transmitted across generations and manifests with epigenetic inheritance patterns that promote inflammation and innate immune dysfunction in the placenta and fetus. Three specific aims have been proposed: 1) Evaluate the burden of SRD on maternal stress, systemic inflammation, and epigenetic signatures among AA pregnant women; 2) Perform comparative transcriptional, epigenetic, and immunological profiling of placentae from AA and CA pregnant women to identify specific alterations associated with SRD-related stress; and 3) Investigate in utero programming of immune responses and the inheritance of specific epigenetic signatures in AA neonates exposed to maternal SRD-related stress. The biological impact of SRD on epigenetic alterations at the placenta may contribute to increased vulnerability towards preterm birth and adverse outcomes in infancy and childhood. These studies may inform future interventions to address such health risks and can promote the health and well- being of at-risk mother-infant pairs.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2025	2024	THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INC.	720 WESTVIEW DR SW	ATLANTA	GA	30310	FULTON	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	3	5/13/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $597,833 )
2024	2024	THE MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INC.	720 WESTVIEW DR SW	ATLANTA	GA	30310	FULTON	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	3	6/23/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$597,833
														Subtotal = $597,833

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $616,322 )
2023	2023	MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INC.	720 WESTVIEW DR SW	ATLANTA	GA	30310	FULTON	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	001	2	5/31/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$616,322
2023	2022	MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INC.	720 WESTVIEW DR SW	ATLANTA	GA	30310	FULTON	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	5/16/2023	NEW	$0
														Subtotal = $616,322

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $628,540 )
2022	2022	MOREHOUSE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, INC., THE	720 WESTVIEW DR SW	ATLANTA	GA	30310	FULTON	USA	Minority Health and Health Disparities Research	000	1	9/25/2022	NEW	$628,540
														Subtotal = $628,540

Grand Total All Awards = $1,842,695

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The Impact of Transgenerational Racial Trauma on Epigenetic Modifications in the Mother-Infant Dyad during Pregnancy. Comparisons Between Caucasian and African American Populations

Award Number: R01MD017690

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL CENTER ON MINORITY HEALTH AND HEALTH DISPARITIES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/25/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2025

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