Maternal obesity, gut microbes, and pregnancy health in women
Official title: Lifecycle of obesogenic gender behaviors and cardiometabolic disease in women
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11386714 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how obesity in pregnant women and gut microbes might influence inflammation and the risk of preeclampsia, aiming to improve fetal health and later heart/metabolic outcomes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $376,581 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL165467-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11386714 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant individuals with obesity who may be at higher risk for preeclampsia and related complications.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals without obesity or those not at risk for preeclampsia may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
The project studies whether excessive weight gain and a disrupted gut microbiome during pregnancy alter inflammatory signals that affect the mother and fetus. Researchers will work with a mouse model that mimics preeclampsia and test whether probiotic Lactobacillus can improve pregnancy outcomes. They will examine gut-derived fatty acid signals and inflammatory pathways at the mother–placenta interface and assess subsequent fetal development. The study also plans embryo transfers to separate maternal from embryonic contributions to these signals. Overall, the work seeks to link maternal obesity, gut health, and fetal programming to cardiometabolic disease risk in offspring.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, it could lead to new strategies to prevent preeclampsia and reduce future cardiometabolic risk for children born to mothers with obesity.
How similar studies have gone: Animal studies have shown links between gut microbiota, inflammation, and pregnancy outcomes; this project builds on those findings with a focused maternal–embryonic signaling angle.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sones, Jennifer Liford — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Sones, Jennifer Liford
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.