How pregnancy stress and diet may change a baby's epigenome
Prenatal stress and diet, and the fetal epigenome
['FUNDING_R01'] · NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH · NIH-11323014
This project looks at whether a mother's stress and diet during pregnancy change the baby's epigenome in ways that could raise the child's risk for obesity and metabolic problems.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (RALEIGH, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11323014 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I'm pregnant, researchers ask about my stress, mood, and what I eat during pregnancy and collect biological samples at birth such as placenta or cord blood. They measure DNA methylation and other epigenetic marks, with special attention to imprint control regions that are set early in development. The team follows children over time to link those epigenetic marks to growth, fat distribution, blood sugar, and lipid levels. The goal is to find early biological changes that help explain how prenatal experiences influence childhood metabolic health.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant people willing to share information about stress and diet and to provide biological samples at delivery, with follow-up of their children.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, unwilling to provide biological samples or attend long-term follow-up visits, or whose health concerns are unrelated to prenatal exposures are unlikely to benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify early biological markers and targets to help prevent childhood obesity and metabolic disease by addressing maternal stress or diet.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked prenatal stress and diet to epigenetic changes and later metabolic risk, but focusing on imprint control regions and their connection to child metabolic outcomes is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
RALEIGH, UNITED STATES
- NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH — RALEIGH, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: HOYO, CATHRINE — NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIVERSITY RALEIGH
- Study coordinator: HOYO, CATHRINE
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.