September 29, 2026

(Shutterstock)

Prenatal care plays a critical role in supporting the health of both mother and baby. Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) are developing a simple, noninvasive urine test that may help identify pregnancies at risk for serious complications before symptoms appear. Earlier detection could allow health care providers to monitor patients more closely and intervene sooner. The work, published in Reproductive Sciences, is supported by NCATS’ Clinical and Translational Science Awards (CTSA) Program and NIH’s RADx® Radical (RADx-rad) initiative, as well as the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.

Sherin U. Devaskar, M.D., Distinguished Professor of Pediatrics at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, said the study was inspired by the lasting effects of pregnancy complications on both mothers and their children. Pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes (a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy) and preeclampsia (a condition characterized by high blood pressure and signs of organ damage), can increase long-term health risks for both mother and child.

“We have to break the cycle,” Devaskar emphasized. “We have to make a difference.” To meet this challenge on behalf of mothers and children, she first partnered with her obstetrics and maternal-fetal medicine colleague, Carla Janzen, M.D., Ph.D., professor of obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA, who shared this vision. The researchers proposed that urine, which is routinely used to detect pregnancy, could identify if a pregnancy is at greater risk for complications.

Devaskar next partnered with Fang Wei, Ph.D., an adjunct professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry. Wei previously designed a novel technology called electric field–induced release and measurement (EFIRM), which was originally developed for cancer liquid biopsies and later advanced through NIH’s RADx-rad initiative for SARS-CoV-2 saliva-based testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, the team is applying EFIRM to the early detection of pregnancy complications. Christine Happel, Ph.D., the program official for RADx-rad, highlighted the significance of this evolution: “This noninvasive urine test is a new and exciting application of a platform technology that has evolved in response to various health challenges,” she stated.

One of the most promising aspects of this technology is its simplicity. Many laboratory tests rely on blood samples and require extensive sample preparation. By contrast, the EFIRM platform can analyze a very small volume of urine and generate results in as little as 1 hour. This streamlined approach could make testing faster, less invasive and more practical in a variety of clinical settings, while reducing barriers for both patients and health care providers.

Devaskar and Wei identified molecular signatures in urine that may help distinguish pregnancies likely to develop such complications as gestational diabetes or preeclampsia (which is different from gestational hypertension) as early as the first trimester. Earlier risk detection could lead to more focused monitoring and discovery of earlier interventions. “This sets patients up for the future — interventions would be started immediately rather than waiting until the complications have taken place,” Devaskar stated. This approach could be especially important for conditions like preeclampsia, which remains one of the leading causes of maternal and infant morbidity worldwide without a currently recognized and successful intervention.

The project brought together expertise from multiple disciplines. As a neonatologist, Devaskar has firsthand experience caring for newborns affected by pregnancy complications. As an obstetrician-gynecologist, Janzen cares for high-risk mothers. Furthermore, Wei brings expertise in physical chemistry and mechanical engineering. Together, they are translating scientific discoveries from the laboratory into practical tools that could improve prenatal care.

Michael Kurilla, M.D., Ph.D., director of NCATS’ Division of Clinical Innovation, which administers the CTSA Program, remarked that the study exemplifies how collaborative teams can translate scientific discoveries and technological innovations into practical tools that improve patient care:“Multidisciplinary teams translating complex science and advanced technology into simple and easily implementable health care solutions enable everyone the opportunity of better health outcomes,” he stated.

Future studies may explore whether similar biomarkers can be detected in saliva using EFIRM. This could provide an even more convenient way to monitor pregnancy health. A saliva-based test could further expand access to prenatal screening, particularly for patients in rural or underserved communities.

Looking beyond sample collection, Wei also envisions using the technology to monitor pregnancies over time. Home-based monitoring — using either urine or saliva samples — could eventually allow clinicians to track changes throughout pregnancy rather than relying on a single measurement. “I don’t think we should stop here,” she reflected. “We have to push forward.” Regular monitoring could provide a more complete picture of how a pregnancy is progressing and alert health care providers when additional attention may be needed.

Before that future becomes reality, additional work remains. Because the current study was relatively small, the findings must be validated in larger and more diverse populations to ensure the results are reliable and broadly applicable. Researchers also will need to refine the technology, conduct multicenter studies and navigate the regulatory pathways before the test can be brought into routine clinical care.

This project demonstrates how interdisciplinary collaboration and translational science can move promising discoveries toward clinical care. The research highlights the potential of simple, noninvasive tools to identify pregnancy complications earlier and support more personalized care for mothers and babies.