How a mother's and baby's gut bacteria affect a child's brain development
Neurobiological and neurocognitive consequences of diverse microbiome functional trajectories
This project explores how a mother's anxiety during pregnancy and the gut bacteria shared between mother and baby might shape a child's brain development and early thinking skills.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Rochester NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Rochester, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11094931 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that the gut bacteria in both mothers and babies play a key role in how a baby's brain develops. This project looks at how a mother's anxiety during pregnancy might influence the baby's gut bacteria and, in turn, affect the child's brain and thinking abilities. We believe that the transfer of gut bacteria from mother to infant and the substances these bacteria produce are important for early childhood development. To understand this better, we are using information from a large group of mothers and children who have been followed from early pregnancy until the child was four years old, collecting details about their health, gut bacteria, and child development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This project uses existing health information and biological samples from mothers who participated in a long-term pregnancy cohort and their children up to four years of age.
Not a fit: Patients not part of the specific existing pregnancy cohort or those outside the age range of 0-4 years for the child may not directly benefit from this particular data analysis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to support healthy brain development in children by addressing factors like maternal anxiety and the infant microbiome.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies and preliminary findings suggest a connection between maternal anxiety during pregnancy and child neurodevelopment, supporting the approach of this project.
Where this research is happening
Rochester, United States
- University of Rochester — Rochester, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gill, Steven R. — University of Rochester
- Study coordinator: Gill, Steven R.
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.