Improving the storage of breastmilk to keep it nutritious and tasty
Official title: Extending shelf life and preserving the nutritional value of freezer-stored breastmilk
Funded at Pumpkin Baby INC. · NIH-10920148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking for ways to help breastfeeding moms keep their stored breastmilk fresh and nutritious for longer by using natural ingredients, so their babies can enjoy all the important nutrients even after freezing and thawing.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Pumpkin Baby INC. NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lawrenceville, United States) |
| Project start | April 10, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $378,188 |
| NIH project number | 1R41HD115506-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10920148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breastfeeding mothers who express and store their milk for later use, particularly those facing challenges with lactation or returning to work.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not breastfeed or do not use stored breastmilk may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing a method to extend the shelf life of breastmilk by using natural ingredients that help maintain its nutritional quality during freezing and thawing. The approach aims to preserve essential fats, vitamins, proteins, and the overall taste of breastmilk, which is crucial for infant nutrition. By addressing the common issue of nutrient degradation in frozen breastmilk, this project seeks to support breastfeeding mothers who rely on stored milk for their infants. The research will involve testing various food-derived bioactive ingredients to find the most effective solutions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly enhance the nutritional value of frozen breastmilk, benefiting infants who rely on stored milk.
How similar studies have gone: While there have been various studies on breastmilk preservation, this specific approach using food-derived bioactive ingredients is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
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Pumpkin Baby INC.
Lawrenceville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Silpe, Justin E — Pumpkin Baby INC.
- Study coordinator: Silpe, Justin E
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.