Early infancy hormone patterns and PCOS risk
Developmental Origins of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Very Early Phenotypes During the Mini Puberty of Infancy and Beyond
['FUNDING_R01'] · LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO · NIH-11307059
This project looks at hormone levels during the first months of life in baby girls whose mothers have PCOS to find early signs that might predict later PCOS.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11307059 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
The team will enroll infant daughters of women with PCOS and take small blood samples during the 'mini puberty' period in the first months of life to measure hormones such as gonadotropins and AMH. They will compare these measurements with those from infants without a maternal PCOS history and follow the children over time for reproductive and metabolic markers. Because infant testing is challenging, the study uses minimally invasive sampling and careful timing to capture this brief hormonal window. The goal is to uncover early biological signals that explain how PCOS begins and identify who is at highest risk.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are infant girls born to mothers diagnosed with PCOS, especially during the first few months of life when mini-puberty occurs.
Not a fit: Adults, males, infants without a maternal history of PCOS, or babies outside the mini-puberty window would not be eligible and are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could identify early markers that enable monitoring or early interventions to reduce future PCOS and metabolic risk.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies show early hormone exposures can produce PCOS-like traits and some human studies have found prepubertal signs in daughters of women with PCOS, but measuring the infant mini-puberty window in detail is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: TORCHEN, LAURA C — LURIE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF CHICAGO
- Study coordinator: TORCHEN, LAURA C
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.
Conditions: Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus