How maternal health affects infant gut health and growth
Official title: The effect of the maternal plasma and breastmilk metabolome on the infant gut microbiome and growth
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-10910163 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | August 18, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $161,028 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HD113374-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10910163 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include infants born to mothers living with HIV, particularly those in sub-Saharan Africa.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not exposed to HIV or those outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hendrixson, David Taylor — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Hendrixson, David Taylor
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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.