How mothers’ milk handling affects gut health peptides in preterm babies
Official title: Effects of human milk handling practices on peptide release and bioactivity in the preterm infant intestine
Funded at Oregon State University · NIH-11395480 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how different ways of handling breast milk for preterm babies changes the small gut peptides and their effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project start | August 20, 2022 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $576,510 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD097367-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11395480 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Preterm infants in NICUs receiving human milk from donors or their own mothers.
✕Less likely to help
Infants not exposed to the investigated milk handling variations or lacking access to donor milk may see no direct benefit.
What this research studies
In the NICU, preterm infants are fed breast milk that may come fresh or after freezing, thawing, or Holder pasteurization. The study will examine how these handling methods change the milk peptides released in the infant gut and how those peptides can influence gut health and immune activity. Researchers will analyze milk and infant intestinal samples to map peptide profiles and associated biological effects on enterocytes and macrophages. The goal is to identify feeding practices that support optimal growth and development in preterm infants.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide feeding practices to enhance gut health and reduce infection risk for preterm babies.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows milk processing can alter peptide content, but this study directly links handling to peptide release and bioactivity in preterm infants.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon State University
Corvallis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dallas, David Charles — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Dallas, David Charles
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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.