Investigating the long-term effects of azithromycin on childhood obesity and neurodevelopment after cesarean delivery
Official title: Childhood follow-up study of obesity and neurodevelopment after perinatal exposure to adjunctive azithromycin prophylaxis for cesarean delivery
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11070334 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how giving the antibiotic azithromycin to mothers during childbirth affects their children's growth and brain development, especially for those born by cesarean section, and it compares these kids to others who didn't get the antibiotic to see if there are any long-term effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | July 20, 2020 |
| Project end | March 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $636,937 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD102962-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11070334 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0 to 11 years who were born via cesarean delivery and were exposed to azithromycin or placebo during the perinatal period.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were not born via cesarean delivery or did not receive azithromycin during the perinatal period are unlikely to benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research examines how exposure to azithromycin during the perinatal period affects childhood obesity and neurodevelopment in children born via cesarean delivery. It compares outcomes in children who were exposed to azithromycin with those who received a placebo, focusing on growth patterns and cognitive development. The study involves a large cohort of children and aims to provide insights into the long-term implications of antibiotic use during delivery. By following up with these children over several years, the research seeks to understand any potential adverse effects linked to azithromycin exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved guidelines for antibiotic use during cesarean deliveries, ultimately enhancing child health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown significant benefits from azithromycin in reducing maternal infections, but this research is novel in its focus on long-term childhood outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Subramaniam, Akila — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Subramaniam, Akila
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how knee pain and knee obesity and muscle loss affect knee osteoarthritis
This project looks at how knee swelling, excess knee fat, and muscle loss relate to pain and structural changes in knee osteoarthritis in adults.
-
Understanding how maternal and infant sleep and daily rhythms influence early appetite and obesity risk
This project explores how infant sleep, circadian rhythms, and maternal-infant timing relate to early appetite patterns and the risk of obesity in the first year of life.
-
GLP-1 receptor agonists as immune targets to treat asthma in lean and obese adults
Aims to understand how GLP-1R‑agonist diabetes medicines may directly calm immune cells to reduce asthma in adults who are lean or obese.
-
Understanding how where you live and personal factors during pregnancy affect a child’s risk for obesity and metabolic problems
This project looks at how neighborhood conditions and individual factors during pregnancy may influence a child’s risk of obesity and metabolic health as they grow.
-
Multicomponent lifestyle program to curb obesity and cardiometabolic risk in Samoan children
A locally designed lifestyle program aimed at preventing obesity and heart-disease risk in Samoan kids, with a focus on daily routines, healthy eating, sleep, and family support.
-
Game-based mobile app to help pregnant women with overweight/obesity manage weight in Nepal
A new app designed for pregnant women in Nepal with overweight or obesity to help manage weight gain during pregnancy and reduce weight retention after birth.
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.