Award
NIH Reporter #5R01HD113596-03
Effects of maternal exercise on fetal akinesia-impaired bone and joint development
Recipient
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
Award Amount
$511,776.00
Ceiling
$511,776.00
Awarded
July 01, 2026
Identifier
5R01HD113596-03
The award funds research on how maternal exercise affects fetal bone and joint development impaired by fetal akinesia, aiming to uncover cellular responses and signaling mechanisms to develop therapeutic interventions.
Description
This project investigates the effects of maternal exercise on fetal skeletal development, aiming to identify cellular and molecular mechanisms and potential therapeutic interventions. Mechanical forces exerted by fetal movement during development influence skeletal morphogenesis. Fetal akinesia can cause skeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia, arthrogryposis, and impaired bone development. Maternal exercise was found to rescue bone and joint development in muscle-less limb mice, implicating mechanical cues. The project aims to determine the cells that respond to maternal exercise and define the underlying signaling mechanisms to provide new insights and identify maternal exercise as a therapeutic intervention.