How maternal obesity and diabetes during pregnancy affect children's health as they grow up
Official title: Effects of prenatal exposures to maternal obesity and gestational diabetes on metabolic decline from childhood to adolescence and underlying neurobiological pathways
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11085981 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how a mother’s weight and diabetes during pregnancy might affect her child's health as they grow up, especially regarding weight and diabetes risk, and it aims to find ways to help kids who might be at risk.
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 | August 28, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $696,886 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DK134079-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085981 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children aged 0-20 who were exposed to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were not exposed to maternal obesity or gestational diabetes during pregnancy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how being exposed to maternal obesity and gestational diabetes during pregnancy impacts children's metabolic health from childhood into adolescence. It uses advanced neuroimaging techniques and metabolic assessments to understand the biological mechanisms behind these effects. By studying brain pathways related to energy balance, the research aims to uncover how these prenatal exposures may lead to obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life. The findings could help identify at-risk children and inform preventive strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and prevention of obesity and type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in animal models, and initial findings in human cohorts support the relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Page, Kathleen Alanna — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Page, Kathleen Alanna
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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.