How prenatal exposure to certain chemicals and diet affects obesity across generations

Interactions between prenatal obesogen exposure and Total Western diet lead to a transgenerational thrifty phenotype: functional and epigenomic analysis of effects in fat and liver

NIH-funded research University of California-Irvine · NIH-11191204

This study is looking at how certain chemicals in the environment during pregnancy, along with a typical Western diet, might lead to obesity and health problems in future generations, and it aims to find out how these factors affect fat and liver function to help develop better ways to prevent and treat obesity-related issues.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of California-Irvine NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Irvine, United States)
Project IDNIH-11191204 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how exposure to specific environmental chemicals during pregnancy, combined with a typical Western diet, can lead to obesity and related health issues in future generations. The study focuses on understanding the biological mechanisms behind these effects, particularly through analyzing changes in fat and liver function. By examining the genetic and epigenetic changes that occur, the research aims to uncover how these factors contribute to obesity and metabolic disorders. Patients may benefit from insights that could lead to new prevention and treatment strategies for obesity-related conditions.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have a family history of obesity or metabolic disorders and are interested in understanding the impact of prenatal exposures on health.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have a family history of obesity or metabolic disorders may not receive direct benefits from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide new strategies for preventing obesity and its related health issues in future generations.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in linking environmental exposures to obesity, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Irvine, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Adult-Onset Diabetes Mellitus
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.