Maternal gut microbiome and how it shapes early brain development and autism-related behaviors
Official title: Maternal gut microbiota in fetal programming of neurodevelopment and related disorders
Funded at Baylor College of Medicine · NIH-11370266 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study at Baylor Medicine will explore how a mother's gut bacteria during pregnancy may influence a child’s brain development and risk for autism-related behaviors.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Baylor College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $442,005 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD109780-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11370266 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people and their infants, with a focus on understanding how maternal factors relate to child development and autism risk.
✕Less likely to help
Results may not directly benefit individuals who do not carry specific risk factors or who do not participate in translational follow-up studies.
What this research studies
This project looks at how the mother’s gut microbiome might program the baby’s brain during pregnancy and affect social behavior after birth. It uses human-relevant samples and might include sequencing of gut-related materials to understand mechanisms linking diet, microbiome, and brain development. The goal is to identify how early environmental factors could contribute to autism-related traits and other neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide dietary or microbiome-targeted strategies to support healthy brain development.
How similar studies have gone: Emerging research shows associations between maternal microbiome and child neurodevelopment, with growing evidence but still exploratory.
Where this research is happening
-
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Buffington, Shelly a — Baylor College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Buffington, Shelly a
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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.