Prenatal Kynurenic Acid Elevation: Sleep and Behavior Dynamics of Mother and Offspring

2023 Bridge to Success Grant for Mid-Career/Senior Investigators

Ana Pocivavsek, PhD
University of South Carolina

Key Project Outcome

Our study supported by the AASM Foundation highlights the importance of sleep and metabolism during pregnancy, with implications for maternal and child health. Prenatal insults such as sleep loss elevate risks to both maternal and child health. We have investigated enhanced tryptophan to kynurenine metabolism as a shared mechanism of prenatal insults in an effort to define, treat, and prevent adverse sleep and metabolism dynamics that disrupt a healthy pregnancy.