ibs.GRANADA researchers obtain funding for a European project to improve maternal and child health during pregnancy

The Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA) is pleased to announce the approval of an ambitious European project entitled “Maternal Perinatal Stress and Adverse Outcomes in the Offspring: Maximizing infants'development (TREASURE)”, financed with more than 600.000 euros by the European Union. This project, with a duration of four years, is led by the Health Care and Conditioning Factors research group of ibs.GRANADA, with the objective of improving the health of boys and girls and reducing the economic cost derived from high maternal perinatal stress levels.

Maternal perinatal stress has been identified as a significant factor associated with negative effects on offspring. These effects can manifest themselves in the short term, including prematurity and low birth weight; long term, with possible implications such as neuroinflammation and autism; and in the very long term, with transgenerational consequences. Previous studies indicate that maternal stress during pregnancy can affect the fetus through various mediators such as cytokines, tryptophan, cortisol, catecholamines, reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress and microbiota, as well as epigenetic mechanisms.

The main objective of the project promoted by ibs.GRANADA is to consolidate a multidisciplinary and international network made up of scientists, students, interested parties, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and companies.

This network of expert professionals, belonging to different institutions such as the University of Granada, and led by ibs.GRANADA, aims to research and disseminate scientific evidence to minimize, reduce and prevent the impact of maternal perinatal stress on fetal development. . The project seeks to improve the psychological, medical and neuronal development of offspring throughout their lives.

Furthermore, this union of knowledge between different scientific disciplines will enhance global collaboration to face the challenge of maternal perinatal stress. This exchange of knowledge, evidence and experiences between scientific disciplines and bringing together international research groups will result in the generation of new clinical guidelines and best practices across Europe.

The TREASURE project represents a significant step toward understanding and mitigating the impacts of maternal perinatal stress on offspring health. Funding provided by the European Union supports this initiative, which is expected to contribute positively to children's health internationally.

About the group

The research group Ee12-Care and Conditioning Factors in Health of the ibs.GRANADA, led by Rafael Caparros-Gonzalez, and made up of healthcare nurses and teachers from Granada, as well as Primary Care personnel, carries out its research studies in health care, biopsychosocial and cultural factors in health, management, health organization and translation of knowledge to clinical practice and health promotion and disease prevention. In addition, they participate in two research networks on innovation in research on peripartum depression and maternal perinatal stress and its adverse outcomes in offspring.