How breastfeeding and early-life gut and nose microbes affect children's breathing and allergy risk
Official title: BREATH - Breastfeeding, Early-life Microbiome and Respiratory Health Study
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11168953 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This work looks at how breastfeeding and the bacteria in babies' guts and noses influence young children's chances of developing asthma and other breathing problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 13, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $504,566 |
| NIH project number | 5DP2AI185753-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168953 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for related participation would be pregnant people, breastfeeding mothers, and infants or young children whose caregivers can provide breast milk, stool or nasal samples and share health information.
✕Less likely to help
Older children, adolescents, and adults without infant exposures are unlikely to gain direct benefit from prevention strategies aimed at early infancy.
What this research studies
Researchers are combining data from two large birth cohorts that include thousands of infant stool and nasal samples, breast milk information, and health records. They will use advanced computer algorithms to find patterns linking breastfeeding, specific microbes, and early respiratory outcomes, and then use animal models to test biological mechanisms. The team will analyze both gut and nasal microbiomes, human milk components, and detailed clinical follow-up to identify microbial or milk-related targets for prevention. Findings are meant to guide ways to reduce childhood asthma and respiratory infections by focusing on early-life factors.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new ways to prevent childhood asthma and respiratory infections by targeting breastfeeding practices, milk components, or the infant microbiome.
How similar studies have gone: Prior observational studies have linked early-life microbiomes and breastfeeding to later asthma risk but findings have been inconsistent, so this project builds on existing evidence with larger data and animal tests to clarify causality.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shenhav, Liat — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Shenhav, Liat
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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.