How nutrition and inflammation during pregnancy affect early brain development in babies
Nutrition and Inflammation in Pregnancy: Impacts on Early Human Brain Development
This study is looking at how not getting enough food and having infections during pregnancy can affect babies' brain development, especially in places with fewer resources, and it aims to find ways to help improve the health of both moms and their babies.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brown University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Providence, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11061211 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how undernutrition and infections during pregnancy impact the brain development of infants, particularly in low-resource settings like Sub-Saharan Africa. It focuses on the nutritional needs of pregnant women and how inflammation from infections can affect the availability of essential nutrients like iron. By leveraging a randomized controlled trial, the study aims to uncover the biological pathways linking prenatal nutrition and inflammation to cognitive and psychological outcomes in children. The findings could help inform interventions to improve maternal and infant health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women in low-resource settings, particularly those experiencing undernutrition or infections.
Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or those living in high-resource settings may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved nutritional guidelines and interventions that enhance brain development in infants, potentially reducing cognitive and psychological issues later in life.
How similar studies have performed: While there is limited research specifically on hepcidin in pregnancy, similar studies have shown the importance of nutrition and inflammation in fetal development, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
Providence, United States
- Brown University — Providence, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Anne Shee Cc — Brown University
- Study coordinator: Lee, Anne Shee Cc
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.