SAFeR | The Institute of Medical Sciences | The University of Aberdeen

SAFeR

Research has proved that things happening to or around a pregnant woman can affect the health and wellbeing of the unborn baby for the rest of its life. While in the womb the unborn baby, the fetus, is “programmed” for life after birth. Adverse events during pregnancy, such as exposure to air pollution, nicotine, drugs, pollutants, including forever chemicals, contribute to health issues in offspring. In other words, disturbing the ”programming”. Due to the challenges in studying human fetal development, the mechanisms behind this programming and how it is derailed are still not well known.

Since 2016 the SAFeR (Scottish Advanced Fetal Research) Group has been working to close this gap in knowledge, focusing on studying human fetuses between 11 and 20 weeks of gestation. The SAFeR Study, together with the previous FEGO and COT studies, is important in being able to directly study the fetus and its placenta.

Overview of the work that we do

A process infographic explaining exposure factors, how they are investigated and what the information is used for.

This infographic uses four key questions and their answers to help explain how environmental, and lifestyle factors impact human health and fetal development, as well as our process for gathering and using this information.

What are factors that we are exposed to? - Categories include working environment, food and drink, air, chemicals, and lifestyle.
What is the fetus exposed to? - Factors like toxins, food and drink, pollution, water, and drugs listed.
How do we find out? - We measure, study, test, and compare.
What do we use this information for? - It highlights publishing, dissemination to stakeholders, NGOs, and governments, and concludes with a report and advise step.

Our research process

These are the five steps that we use to collect and use our research.

Step 1 - measure

Take measurements such as weights and limb sizes

Measurements such as weight and limb size are taken to track changes in development

Step 2 - Test

Test whether environmental chemicals are present

Test for environmental chemicals

The presence of environmental chemicals is tested

Step 3 - compare

Compare data and see if exposed factors cause an effect on normal development

Compare data to investigate cause and effect

The data collected is compared and exposure factors are looked at to see if there is an effect on normal development

Step 4 - study

Study chemical exposure and how tissues respond

Chemical exposure is studied and the fetal tissue effects are recorded

Step 5 - report

Publish, disseminate to stakeholders, NGOs, Government / Parliament

Report and advise - the research is published and often used to inform various groups

Research details

Research aims

The research aims to investigate many fetal systems affected by adverse conditions in the womb. These include the brain, bones, reproductive system, liver, lungs, immune system and placenta.

Our strategy improves knowledge on how the fetus normally develops during pregnancy and studies how the environment and the mother's lifestyle during pregnancy affect different organ systems in the fetus. By unravelling the mechanisms involved, the researchers aim to provide insights into lifelong health factors and work out how our environment during pregnancy can affect the health of the resulting children and future generations.

Goal of this research

The goal of the research programme is to provide fundamental information to better understand, detect, prevent and treat adverse effects during pregnancy, with the aim of improving health outcomes later in life. Only with the help of the public can we hope to achieve these goals.

Research story - Black Carbon

Air Pollution and Human Exposure Pathway - a process infographic showing the 8 stages

The infographic illustrates the journey of air pollution from its source to its impact on human health, focusing on exposure during pregnancy. The process is described in the infographic as follows:

Pollution Sources: Pollution originates from transport, factories, and industries that use energy, releasing pollutants into the air.
Exposure to Pollution: Every living thing, from humans to microrobes is exposed to this pollution.
Contamination: Food, water, and air can become contaminated by pollution.
Human Entry Points: Pollutants enter humans through various means, such as breathing, eating, and drinking and through the skin.
Prenatal Exposure: During pregnancy, the fetus is exposed to pollution. Research shows that pollutants are present in a baby’s lungs even before it takes its first breath.
Unanswered Questions: It is not yet fully understood how these pollutants reach the fetus during pregnancy or how they act to disrupt development.
Research Impact: Scientists use their research to inform policymakers, such as the UK Parliament, about air pollution and its impacts.
Future Hopes: The goal is to find ways to protect future generations and improve overall health by reducing exposure to air pollution.

Publications

Data gathered from SAFeR participants has been used to publish articles in academic journals. Please visit Professor Paul Fowler's profile on the University of Aberdeen website and use the "[OPEN ACCESS]" links on his 'Publications' page to view the articles online.

Air pollution nanoparticles get into fetal human organs in the 1st and 2nd trimester

Maternal exposure to ambient black carbon particles and their presence in maternal and fetal circulation and organs: an analysis of two independent population-based observational studies.

Read the University of Aberdeen news article

Collaboration

Our funders are very important to allow us to keep working. The links below show some of the projects that we have worked on or are currently working on.

The FREIA project

FREIA is an EU-funded project that aims to improve identification of chemicals that affect women’s health via disruption of the hormone system.

The INITIALISE project

INITIALISE is an EU funded project that aims to elucidate how exposures and genome impact gut microbiome, host immune system and metabolism, and how the interplay of these factors impact life-course health.

The PARC initiative

PARC aims to develop next-generation chemical risk assessment to protect human health and the environment. It supports the European Union's Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability and the European Green Deal's “Zero pollution” ambition.

Tommy's charity

Tommy’s is now the largest UK charity researching the causes and prevention of pregnancy complications, miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.