Digital twins of the hypothalamus, placenta, and gut to help manage gestational diabetes
Official title: Digital twins of the hypothalamus, placenta, and GI for the therapeutics of gestational diabetes
Funded at Morgan State University · NIH-11564199 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study using computer-based models of a pregnant person’s brain, placenta, and gut to better understand how gestational diabetes develops and how to tailor treatments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Morgan State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 14, 2026 |
| Project end | September 13, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,937,392 |
| NIH project number | 1OT2OD042825-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11564199 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals in the third trimester who are at risk for or diagnosed with gestational diabetes may be relevant for future clinical validation and trials.
✕Less likely to help
Healthy pregnancies without gestational diabetes or third-trimester changes may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project creates digital models of key brain, placental, and gut systems involved in pregnancy-related glucose regulation. By combining how placental hormones, leptin, and insulin affect hypothalamic circuits, researchers aim to map how energy and glucose control change in the third trimester. The work focuses on translating complex biology into patient-relevant insights that could guide safer, more effective therapies for gestational diabetes. The team draws on existing knowledge of neuronal circuits and metabolic signals to simulate responses to dietary and hormonal changes during pregnancy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more precise, personalized approaches to preventing and treating gestational diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Past modeling work has shown the value of circuit-based approaches; this project extends those ideas to gestational diabetes through digital twins.
Where this research is happening
-
Morgan State University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Pilhwa — Morgan State University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Pilhwa
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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.