Prematurity affects approximately 10% of pregnancies and is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality. In this context, the specialized team at the Biosanté laboratory, led by Dr. Nadia Alfaidy, has been conducting intensive research for more than twenty years. It has identified a key factor, the PROK1 protein, which could be used as a biomarker for the occurrence of this pathology.
Under the coordination of Dr. Nadia Alfaidy, a new project aims to validate the use of PROK1 as an early diagnostic tool and develop new therapeutic strategies to better prevent prematurity.
This program brings together a consortium of experts from leading research centers:
- Pr Tiphaine Barjat (CHU de Saint-Étienne)
- Pr Mohamed Benharouga (Université Grenoble Alpes)
- Dr Laurent Chatre (CNRS - Université de Caen)
- Dr Mathilde Keck (CEA Saclay)
Major Institutional Support
This project has received prestigious funding of €500,000 from the Foundation for Medical Research (FRM).
This support is supplemented by €60,000 in aid provided by the Pôle Universitaire d’Innovation (PUI) - Université Grenoble Alpes (UGA).
At the heart of research: the PROK1 protein
Based on work carried out over the past 20 years, and consolidated in particular by two doctoral theses defended in 2024 and 2025, the specialized team has identified a key factor: the PROK1 protein.
Research has shown that the protein is an innovative biomarker: PROK1 concentration levels vary significantly in maternal blood and amniotic fluid in patients at risk of preterm birth.
A protective role: PROK1 acts as a "quiescence factor" helping to maintain pregnancy by limiting inflammation and oxidative stress, particularly in the event of infection.
A therapeutic avenue: Experimental tests show that modulating this protein reduces the incidence of premature births and preserves the integrity of the placenta and fetal brain.
The project brings together expertise from the University of Grenoble Alpes (UGA), the French Atomic Energy Commission (CEA), the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and the University Hospitals of Grenoble and Saint-Étienne. It will officially begin in June 2026.
" This crucial support from the FRM and our partners enables us to advance an issue of international relevance and offer better health prospects for newborns." — Team MAB2
Tutelles UMR : CEA, Inserm, UGA
Collaborations: UGA, CHU Grenoble, CHU Saint Etienne, CNRS, Université de Caen, CEA-Saclay.