Abstract
(Englisch)
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HappyMums is designed to improve our understanding on the biological mechanisms underlying the development of depressive symptoms in
pregnancy, and the efficacy of interventions. It will interrogate a large collection of cohorts with multiple biological, medical, clinical, sociodemographic
and environmental and lifestyle data to identify the most robust risk factors triggering depressive symptoms, but also moderators of
the risk.
By putting together unique human samples of placenta, chorionic villi and amniotic fluid, and animal models, HappyMums will improve the
understanding of the neurobiological mechanisms affected by depressive symptoms in pregnancy that lead to alterations in the foetal environment,
shaping offspring risk for developing negative mental outcomes. The use of three complimentary rodent models will allow to achieve a proof of
causality, and the presence of an innovative fish model will elucidate the mechanisms specific to placenta by which adverse maternal conditions
are transmitted to the offspring without the potentially confounding mitigating effects of compensatory postnatal maternal care. This knowledge will
allow the identification of new targets for the development of novel medications, for the repurposing of existing medications or for the development
of non-pharmacological interventions. HappyMums will also develop a digital platform where AI tools-based data can be collected, together with
biological, clinical, medical, environmental and lifestyle data, through a mobile phone App that will be at the interface with clinicians via a dedicated
dashboard. This will allow early screening of depressive symptoms, prompt diagnoses, personalized treatments, and the promotion of protective
lifestyle attitudes. Overall, HappyMums will not only increase the knowledge in the field of mental disorders in pregnancy, but also improve the
wellbeing of these women, providing unprecedented benefits also to the offspring and thus to society at large.
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