Research Topic: Effect of chronic opioid use on early cardiovascular development. Up to 22% of pregnant women either receive opioid pain medications or misuse opioids, consequently exposing their fetuses to potential adverse outcomes such as congenital heart defects, stillbirths, and disrupted early cardiovascular development (eCVD). While cessation of opioid use might not be possible, effective and individualized pain management during pregnancy is critical and strongly warranted. However, the precise details of how opioid timing, dose, and type affect eCVD remain poorly understood. There is an urgent need to investigate the impact of opioids on eCVD in models that faithfully simulate human embryonic development. Without such knowledge, establishing a guide for opioid treatment during pregnancy to mitigate adverse cardiovascular outcomes in neonates remains unlikely.