Mapping how nutrients and metabolites are transported between mothers and infants
Official title: MiMA: Mother-infant Metabolite-transporter Atlas
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-10857996 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how nutrients and important substances move between mothers and their babies, so we can better understand how what a mom eats can impact her baby's growth and health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 17, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $697,803 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD114758-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10857996 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include pregnant women and mothers with infants under 11 years old.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have infants may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the transport mechanisms that facilitate the exchange of nutrients and metabolites between mothers and their infants. By creating a comprehensive atlas of transporters, the study aims to identify how these transporters function across various tissues, including the fetal blood-brain barrier and the infant gut. The approach involves advanced techniques in metabolomics and proteomics to prioritize and analyze the transporters' roles in maternal and infant health. Patients may benefit from insights into how maternal nutrition affects infant development and health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved nutritional guidelines for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, enhancing infant health and development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in understanding maternal-infant nutrient transport, but this comprehensive mapping approach is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chang, Geoffrey a — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Chang, Geoffrey a
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.