Award
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 5R01HD113596-02
Effects of maternal exercise on fetal akinesia-impaired bone and joint development
Recipient
University of Pennsylvania
Award Amount
$522,257.00
Ceiling
$522,257.00
Awarded
July 24, 2025
Identifier
5R01HD113596-02
The project investigates how maternal exercise affects fetal skeletal development impaired by akinesia, aiming to identify cellular responses and signaling mechanisms to develop therapies for related skeletal disorders.
Description
This US-Ireland Research and Development (R&D) Partnership Programme project aims to determine the effects of maternal exercise on fetal akinesia-impaired skeletal development and to define the cellular and molecular mechanisms. Mechanical forces exerted by fetal movement during development influence skeletal morphogenesis. Fetal akinesia, caused by low amniotic fluid volume, breech position, or impaired muscle development, can cause skeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia, arthrogryposis, and impaired bone development. Maternal exercise (via wheel-running) has been shown to rescue bone and joint development in “muscle-less limb” (Spd) mice, implicating mechanical cues. This project aims to identify the cells responding to maternal exercise and the signaling mechanisms involved, potentially leading to therapeutic interventions.