How maternal gut bacteria affect fetal brain development and disorders
Official title: Maternal gut microbiota in fetal programming of neurodevelopment and related disorders
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-10907608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how the bacteria in pregnant women's guts might affect their baby's brain development and could be linked to conditions like autism, with the hope of finding ways to help prevent these issues.
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 start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $538,938 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD109780-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10907608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation would be pregnant women, particularly those with a family history of neurodevelopmental disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those without a family history of neurodevelopmental disorders may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of maternal gut microbiota in influencing fetal brain development and the potential link to neurodevelopmental disorders like autism. By examining the gut bacteria composition in pregnant women, the study aims to understand how these microorganisms may affect the immune system and brain development of the fetus. The approach includes analyzing biological samples and using advanced sequencing techniques to identify changes in gut microbiota and their possible effects on neurodevelopment. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to preventive strategies or interventions for neurodevelopmental disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for preventing or mitigating neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between gut microbiota and neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buffington, Shelly a — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Buffington, Shelly a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Vitamin D, gut bacteria and dementia risk in older adults with HIV
This work will look at whether low vitamin D and changes in gut bacteria are linked to higher dementia risk in older adults living with chronic HIV and similar community members.
-
Gut bacteria and lung immune cells shape viral lung infections
A study explores how gut microbes affect lung immune cells and severity of respiratory viral infections to identify potential ways to reduce illness.
-
Gut bacteria and Tuft-2 cells linked to early colorectal cancer risk in young Black Americans
This grant aims to understand how gut microbes and Tuft-2 cells may predict aggressive colon adenomas in young Black adults who develop colorectal cancer.
-
Gut bacteria, HIV, and alcohol: how microbes affect gut health in people with HIV
This NIH grant studies how alcohol use and HIV together affect the gut’s bacteria and barrier, exploring a possible way to reduce gut inflammation in people living with HIV.
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.