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The Project

HappyMums is designed to improve our understanding on the biological mechanisms underlying the development of depressive symptoms in pregnancy, and the efficacy of possible therapeutic interventions.

HappyMums will interrogate a large collection of cohorts with multiple biological, medical, clinical, socio-demographic and environmental and lifestyle data to identify key risk factors for depressive symptoms in pregnancy, as well as possible moderators of risk.

By bringing together unique human samples of maternal blood, placenta, chorionic villi and amniotic fluid, and animal models, HappyMums aims to improve our understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms in pregnancy. It is hypothezised that these mechanisms then lead to alterations in the foetal environment, that shape the offspring risk of less than optimal developmental outcomes.

pancia incinta

The use of three complementary rodent models will allow causality to be established, and the presence of an innovative fish model will elucidate the placental-specific mechanisms by which adverse maternal conditions are transmitted to the offspring without the potential mitigating effects of compensatory postnatal maternal care.
This knowledge will allow the identification of new targets for the development of new drugs, the repurposing of existing drugs or for the development of non-pharmacological interventions. HappyMums will also develop a digital platform where data based on, together with biological, clinical, medical, environmental and lifestyle data, can be collected through a mobile phone app that will be at the interface with clinicians via a dedicated dashboard. This will enable early screening for depressive symptoms, prompt diagnosis, personalized treatment and promotion of protective lifestyle behaviors. Overall, HappyMums will not only increase the knowledge about mental health disorders in pregnancy, but also improve the wellbeing of women experiencing antenatal depression, with unprecedented benefits for their offspring and thus society at large.

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HappyMums is Funded by the European Union (Grant Agreement n.101057390). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.

 

HappyMums

Reach us
happymumsproject@gmail.com

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