How maternal insulin levels affect the metabolic health of offspring
Official title: Placental Insulin Signaling and mTOR Nutrient-Sensing Programming of Offspring Metabolic Health
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11049180 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how high insulin levels in pregnant women might affect their children's long-term health, especially their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and it aims to find ways to help families who might be at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2023 |
| Project end | February 28, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $521,795 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK136237-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11049180 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women with conditions such as prediabetes, obesity, or gestational diabetes.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have a history of insulin-related metabolic conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of maternal insulin levels during pregnancy on the long-term metabolic health of their children. It focuses on understanding how hyperinsulinemia, a condition where there is excess insulin in the blood, can influence the development of Type 2 diabetes in offspring. The study examines the role of the placenta in mediating these effects, particularly how maternal insulin may alter nutrient delivery to the fetus and program metabolic disease. By analyzing both genetic and environmental factors, the research aims to uncover mechanisms that could lead to preventive strategies for at-risk populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new interventions that reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes in children born to mothers with high insulin levels during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the links between maternal health and offspring metabolic outcomes, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alejandro, Emilyn — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Alejandro, Emilyn
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Metabolic Health and Lifestyle in Down Syndrome and Risk of Related Health Conditions
A nationwide study aims to understand how metabolic health and daily habits affect health conditions like Alzheimer’s-related changes in people with Down syndrome.
-
Brown-fat lipids and their mimics for better metabolism
Researchers are studying small fat-related molecules produced by brown fat to understand how they help with metabolism and may lead to new ways to treat type 2 diabetes.
-
GROW Together: How a mother’s blood sugar affects a baby’s growth and future health in American Samoa
A study following pregnant Pacific Islander women in American Samoa to understand how glucose levels during pregnancy influence their babies’ early growth and later risk of diabetes.
-
Aina-Based Engagement and Social Epigenomic Pathways to Metabolic Health for Native Hawaiian Youth
A Native Hawaiian youth program combines Indigenous knowledge with modern science to understand and improve blood sugar health and inflammation through community-led farming and gut microbiome changes.
-
Glyphosate exposure and young adults' metabolic health
A study will look at how glyphosate exposure relates to metabolism and liver health in young adults, using urine measurements and health data.
-
Musculoskeletal and Metabolic Health in midlife women during menopause
A long-term study following women through menopause to understand how bone, muscle, and metabolic health change and affect aging.
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.