Creating Human Milk Sugars for Infant Health
Chemoenzymatic construction of synthetic human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) glycome
This work aims to develop new ways to make important sugars found in human milk, called HMOs, to help improve infant health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11115744 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers are working to create a complete collection of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in the lab, which are special sugars found in breast milk. These HMOs are known to be very important for the health of breast-fed infants. Currently, it's hard to get enough of these specific sugars to fully understand their benefits and use them in products like infant formula or medicines. This project will develop efficient methods using enzymes to build these complex sugars, making them more accessible for future health applications.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work does not involve direct patient participation but aims to benefit infants who may consume formula or need specific nutritional support in the future.
Not a fit: Patients not in the infant population or those not requiring nutritional supplementation related to human milk components would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better infant formulas, nutritional supplements, or even new treatments that mimic the health benefits of breast milk.
How similar studies have performed: While efforts have been made to synthesize HMOs using various methods, achieving a comprehensive collection of all known HMO structures has not yet been accomplished.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Xi — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Chen, Xi
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 below.