Creating a model of mammary glands to improve breast milk safety
Official title: Developing a Biomimetic Lactating Mammary Lobe for Therapeutic Safety
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11163030 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is creating a model that mimics how mammary glands work to learn more about breast milk production and how different medications might affect it, helping to provide better advice for breastfeeding moms who need to take medicine.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $78,040 |
| NIH project number | 1F32HD116425-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11163030 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breastfeeding mothers who are taking medications or therapeutics.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not breastfeeding or who do not take any medications may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a biomimetic model of mammary glands to better understand how breast milk is produced and how medications affect its quality. By mimicking the natural processes of breast milk synthesis, the project aims to evaluate the safety of drugs and therapeutics during lactation. The approach involves using a microengineered system that replicates the physiological characteristics of mammary lobes, allowing researchers to study the impact of various factors on breast milk production. This could lead to improved guidelines for breastfeeding mothers who need to take medications.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could enhance the safety and quality of breast milk for infants whose mothers are on medication.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been some research on drug transport in breast milk, this biomimetic approach is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Amy H — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Lee, Amy H
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.