How maternal health affects infant gut health and growth
The effect of the maternal plasma and breastmilk metabolome on the infant gut microbiome and growth
This study is looking at how the health of mothers with HIV affects their breastmilk and how that, in turn, impacts their babies' gut health and growth, with the goal of finding better ways to support these little ones in Kenya.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10910163 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how the health of mothers living with HIV influences the composition of their breastmilk and the subsequent impact on their infants' gut microbiome and growth. By analyzing samples from mothers and their infants in Kenya, the study aims to understand the metabolic changes in breastmilk due to maternal HIV infection. The research will utilize advanced techniques like targeted metabolomics and machine learning to uncover the biological mechanisms behind growth challenges in infants exposed to HIV. This could lead to better nutritional strategies for improving health outcomes in these vulnerable children.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include infants born to mothers living with HIV, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa.
Not a fit: Patients who are not exposed to HIV or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved breastfeeding practices and nutritional interventions that enhance growth and health in infants exposed to HIV.
How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research into maternal health and infant outcomes, this specific approach combining metabolomics and machine learning is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- University of Washington — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hendrixson, David Taylor — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Hendrixson, David Taylor
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.