Maternal obesity, AMPK, and how it shapes a child’s health
Official title: Maternal obesity, AMPK and Developmental Programming
Funded at Washington State University · NIH-11377111 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study from Washington State University explores how a mother's obesity affects a baby’s development through a key energy sensor called AMPK, to understand risks for obesity and type 2 diabetes later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pullman, United States) |
| Project start | September 27, 2010 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $377,108 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD067449-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377111 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant individuals with obesity or overweight status and their offspring, with an emphasis on understanding early developmental windows.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnancies without obesity or obesity-related risks may see less direct benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This project looks at how maternal obesity influences fetal development by altering AMPK activity in developing muscle and fat tissues. Researchers will use single-cell RNA sequencing to trace embryonic cell lineages and how they contribute to muscle and brown fat, aiming to link these changes to future metabolic health. The work builds on prior findings that maternal obesity disrupts AMPK and leads to fibrosis and fat buildup in offspring tissues. By studying embryonic origins of these defects, the study hopes to identify targets to prevent metabolic disorders in children. The effort combines molecular biology with developmental timing to better understand how early life conditions shape adult disease risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform strategies to prevent obesity and type 2 diabetes initiated by maternal health, potentially guiding interventions during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown associations between maternal obesity, AMPK activity, and offspring metabolic outcomes, supporting the relevance of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington State University
Pullman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Du, Min — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Du, Min
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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.