Using algorithms to build a map of the placenta

The placenta is one of the most vital organs when a woman is pregnant. If it's not working correctly, the consequences can be dire: Children may experience stunted growth and neurological disorders, and their mothers are at increased risk of blood conditions like preeclampsia, which can impair kidney and liver function. Unfortunately, assessing placental health is difficult because of the limited information that can be gleaned from imaging. Traditional ultrasounds are cheap, portable, and easy to perform, but they can't always capture enough detail. This has spurred researchers to explore the potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).