How babies' gut microbes and metabolism develop differently
Divergent Functional and Metabolic Development of the Infant Microbiome
This project looks at how babies' gut microbes and their metabolic activity grow and vary, to learn how those differences may affect infant health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11363732 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If your baby joined, researchers would collect stool and other routine samples over time and record feeding and health information. They would use genomic sequencing and metabolic testing to identify which microbes are present and what biochemical products they produce. The team would compare patterns across infants to find different developmental pathways and links with growth, immune responses, or common early-life conditions. Findings could point toward better feeding guidance or future microbiome-targeted approaches to support infant health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Newborns and infants, especially in the first months of life, whose parents are willing to provide stool samples and basic health and feeding information.
Not a fit: Adults and older children would not directly benefit from this infant-focused work, and infants who cannot provide samples or follow-up data would not be included.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to new ways to support healthy growth and reduce infections or allergies by guiding feeding practices or microbiome-targeted therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked infant gut microbes to growth, allergies, and immune development, but tracking functional metabolic development in detail is a newer and active area of research.
Where this research is happening
Tucson, United States
- University of Arizona — Tucson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lynch, Susan Veronica — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Lynch, Susan Veronica
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.