The Swedish Research Council invests in miscarriage research

Pol Solé Navais, an obstetrics and gynecology researcher who received a six million Swedish kronor establishment grant from the Swedish Research Council, is the principal investigator. The research focuses on the genetic causes behind miscarriages.

Not all fetuses with abnormal chromosomal numbers result in miscarriages, while many fetuses with normal chromosomal numbers do.

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"My project aims to explain these observations by shifting the focus from major chromosomal abnormalities to genetic variants with small effects commonly observed in the population. Ultimately, I expect the project to enhance molecular diagnostics in miscarriages," says Pol Solé Navais.

Early Life Development

Together with other researchers, he aims to decipher how the fetus's genetic heritage contributes to miscarriages by integrating registry data from Nordic countries, genotypes from hundreds of thousands of individuals, and transcriptomics from individual cells.

The research field is currently undergoing significant technological development, which Pol Solé Navais believes will revolutionize our understanding of the dynamics of early life development.

"I see my project as a step towards a better understanding of the genes, signalling pathways, and biological processes crucial for life in the womb. I find it exciting to follow how my scientific inquiries develop and mature in this field. I wonder whether any of our findings can be translated into improved clinical practice," he says.

Seven Received Establishment Grants

As the name suggests, the establishment grant provides the opportunity to lay the foundation for a continued scientific career based on the researcher's achievements so far. The requirements for receiving the grant are very high. Additionally, six other researchers at the University of Gothenburg receive establishment grants from the Swedish Research Council.