Nature Communications, Published online: 10 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41467-026-77576-z Normal placental development is fundamental to fetal outcome, yet the molecular pathways that underpin this process remain poorly defined. Here, the authors identify TRPV2 as an essential regulator of placental development. Loss of TRPV2 disrupts trophoblast differentiation and placental architecture, leading to fetal growth restriction, impaired survival and abnormal fetal development in mice.