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22/11/2024 - Press release

The 2023 Marató de TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio supports a project from the Hospital del Mar Research Institute

This project will study the short- and long-term impact of steroid sulfation, which is involved in various biological processes, during pregnancy and its influence on maternal mental health and the mother-child bond.

The project, "Short- and Long-term Effects of Steroid Sulfation During Pregnancy on Brain Plasticity, Maternal Well-being, and the Mother-Child Bond", led by Dr. Òscar Vilarroya, coordinator of the Neuroimaging of Mental Disorders Research Group at the Hospital del Mar Research Institute, will receive funding from La Marató de TV3 and Catalunya Ràdio. It is one of 26 projects related to sexual and reproductive health selected by the Board of Trustees of La Marató Foundation upon the recommendation of the Advisory Commission. Over 100 proposals were submitted in this edition.

The study will analyze how hormonal fluctuations during pregnancy influence the brain and maternal mental health, focusing on the role of steroid metabolism and sulfation-a mechanism that regulates the biological activity of many hormones and neurotransmitters. The project will examine its effects on maternal well-being and the mother-child bond using data from MRI scans, urine, saliva, and mental health assessments from a cohort of nearly 500 women who have been followed for more than 15 years, from before pregnancy through the postpartum period. This data will be compared to that of women who have not been mothers.

Family photo of the representatives of the selected projects

The project, which will receive €200,000 from La Marató, aims to confirm the relationship between steroid sulfation and its short- and long-term effects on brain neuroplasticity, maternal mental health, and the maternal bond. It will be carried out in close collaboration with the Applied Metabolomics Research Group, coordinated by Dr. Óscar Pozo.

This year's Marató will be held on December 15 and will focus on respiratory diseases.

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