UNMC awarded $40,000 to study post birth risks that could impact Nebraska families

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN)- The Nebraska Research Initiative granted the University of Nebraska Medical Center it’s first funding for a new research study.

The $40,000 grant will help unveil the biopsychosocial risk factors leading to health deficiencies after birth.

Gurudutt Pendyala with UNMC’s Department of Anesthesiology is one of the researchers conducting the study.  He says factors that could affect mothers and children vary.

“Risks could be, you know, biopsycho-sociological factors, racial makeups, associated financial issues, and then malnutrition,” according to Pendyala. “And then also regular natural stressors that can significantly affect outcomes.”

The study aims to help women’s healthcare experience, though they’re currently testing on rodent models for results.

Research partner, Ashley Blount, from the University of Nebraska-Omaha says they would be similar in humans.

“There’s even research now with that, with the epigenetic changes, if my child experiences racism or experience or something,” she said.

“They hold onto that in their genetics, and they can pass it on to their offspring.”

Dr. Pendyala says kids exposed to risk factors like opioid use in utero demonstrate Blount’s assessment of mothers’ perinatal experience.

Their end goal is to change the care mothers receive directly affecting the deficiencies and mortality in them, as well as their children.

Blount says continuing the collaboration and putting “quality research” out, could allow counselors to work in partnership with Nebraska hospitals.

Pendyala went on to say this could even lead to a center that’s focused on women’s health and neonatal outcomes in the future.

More information about the research can be found in Biopsychosocial Factors During the Perinatal Period.