How maternal diabetes affects early brain development in children
Official title: Effects of Maternal Diabetes on early brain development
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11053472 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how diabetes in pregnant moms might affect their children's brain development and health, especially for kids under three, to help find ways to prevent obesity and other health issues later on.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | March 15, 2024 |
| Project end | February 28, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $614,394 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK137899-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11053472 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children under the age of three whose mothers had diabetes during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have a history of maternal diabetes during pregnancy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal diabetes during pregnancy on the brain development of children, particularly focusing on those under the age of three. By using advanced neuroimaging techniques, the study aims to uncover the mechanisms linking maternal diabetes to childhood obesity and related health risks. The research will analyze brain structure and function during critical developmental periods, allowing for a better understanding of how prenatal factors influence long-term health outcomes. The goal is to identify early risk factors that can inform prevention strategies for obesity and other associated conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing obesity and related health issues in children exposed to maternal diabetes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the effects of maternal health on child development, but this study aims to address gaps in existing literature with a novel multimodal approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luo, Shan — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Luo, Shan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HEARTS hypertension and diabetes care in Guatemala
This grant tests how well the HEARTS primary care model works in Guatemala to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for patients.
-
Retinal signals in early diabetes and how they affect vision
This grant looks at how diabetes changes the signals in the retina that control vision, with a focus on inner retinal cells and how these changes may lead to vision problems.
-
Integrated Heart Health: A HEARTS-based approach to hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala
A study tests a team-based, stepwise care model to improve blood pressure and blood sugar control for people with both hypertension and diabetes in Guatemala.
-
Bringing WHO HEARTS-D diabetes care into Bangladesh cities
A program to help urban clinics in Bangladesh adopt WHO HEARTS-D guidelines to improve detection, treatment, and control of type 2 diabetes.
-
AI-powered fundus imaging to screen for type 2 diabetes
A mobile AI tool uses eye images to help screen adults for type 2 diabetes in clinics or communities.
-
AI-powered eye imaging to screen for type 2 diabetes with a mobile phone
A plan to use AI on smartphone retinal images to help spot type 2 diabetes early, especially in people who may not have easy access to care.
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.