Creating synthetic versions of human milk sugars for infant health
Supplement:Chemoenzymatic construction of synthetic human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) glycome
This study is working on creating special sugars found in breast milk to help make better infant formulas for babies who can’t be breastfed, so they can get the nutrients they need for healthy growth.
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-11099350 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing synthetic human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), which are vital components of breast milk that support infant health. The project aims to create a comprehensive synthetic HMO glycome using advanced enzymatic methods, making these beneficial sugars more accessible for use in infant formulas and therapeutics. By engineering new enzymes and optimizing production processes, the researchers hope to overcome current limitations in HMO availability. This could lead to improved nutritional options for infants who are not breastfed.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for benefiting from this research include infants who are not breastfed and require nutritional supplementation.
Not a fit: Patients who are exclusively breastfed may not receive direct benefits from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide enhanced nutritional support for infants, particularly those who rely on formula feeding.
How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promise in the synthesis of HMOs, but this approach aims to create a more comprehensive and accessible glycome, making it a novel endeavor.
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.