How a Mother's Gut Bacteria Affects Baby's Brain Development and Conditions like Autism
Maternal gut microbiota in fetal programming of neurodevelopment and related disorders
This project explores how a mother's gut bacteria might influence a baby's brain development and conditions like autism.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11146446 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Social challenges are a key part of conditions like autism, and we don't fully understand why they happen. Scientists believe that a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences, like diet, can affect how the brain develops. This project focuses on the mother's gut bacteria, which are strongly shaped by diet, and how changes in these bacteria might impact a baby's brain development. We want to understand if an imbalance in a mother's gut bacteria could contribute to neurodevelopmental differences seen in conditions like autism.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is most relevant to pregnant individuals, new mothers, and families affected by neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing conditions may not directly benefit from this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand, prevent, or support individuals with neurodevelopmental conditions like autism.
How similar studies have performed: While the connection between the gut microbiome and health is a growing area of interest, this specific link to fetal neurodevelopment and disorders like autism is still being actively explored.
Where this research is happening
Houston, United States
- Baylor College of Medicine — Houston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buffington, Shelly a — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Buffington, Shelly a
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.