PANDORA - Pregnancy Affecting Neurovascular Structure and Function: A Dense-Sampling Observational Research Approach

STUDY BASICS

Are you pregnant, in your first trimester, or planning to be in the next six months? Curious how pregnancy and childbirth might affect your brain? You may be eligible for a research study using advanced MRI to understand how pregnancy affects the maternal brain and blood vessels. Compensation is provided.

STUDY PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to learn about how the hormone changes of pregnancy affect the mother’s brain throughout the pregnancy and afterwards.  PANDORA will also study how these hormones affect mood and cognitive function.

COULD THIS STUDY BE RIGHT FOR YOU?

Eligible participants:

• Are 18 years or older
• Are currently less than 11 weeks pregnant
• Have completed their first prenatal care visit
• Are willing to undergo MRI without contrast and complete study visits during pregnancy and postpartum

WHAT PARTICIPANTS CAN EXPECT

After an initial screening to determine eligibility for the study, participants will complete four in-person study visits: one during each trimester of pregnancy and one 3–6 months after delivery.

At each study visit: 

• Physical measures such as blood pressure, height, and weight
• A blood draw
• Complete surveys and brain games
• MRI Scan of your brain (MRI without contrast is safe in pregnancy.  There is no contrast with the MRI and no radiation.)