Metabolic hormones and how maternal exercise and obesity affect baby brain development
Official title: Metabolic hormones and their involvement in the positive and negative effects of maternal exercise and obesity on synaptic development
Funded at Washington State University · NIH-11326193 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at how a mother's obesity and exercise during pregnancy can influence brain development and later mental health in children.
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 | July 22, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $534,602 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD111948-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11326193 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals and their offspring where maternal metabolic factors (e.g., obesity, exercise levels) may influence fetal brain development.
✕Less likely to help
Families where mother’s metabolic state and exercise do not significantly impact measured brain development markers or where the study’s specific mechanisms do not apply.
What this research studies
If funded, researchers will study how maternal metabolic states, like obesity and exercise, change the development of hippocampal synapses in offspring. They will explore the roles of insulin and the molecule apelin, and how these interact with BDNF to shape glutamatergic synapses during development. The study aims to uncover mechanisms that connect maternal health to child cognition and risk of conditions such as anxiety and autism spectrum disorders. This work could help identify targets to improve brain development and mental health outcomes starting before birth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A better understanding of how maternal health influences child brain development could lead to interventions that reduce risks of anxiety, ASD, and cognitive challenges in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests insulin and apelin can affect synapse formation, supporting potential for meaningful advances, though the precise mechanisms in humans remain to be clarified.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington State University
Pullman, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wayman, Gary Allen — Washington State University
- Study coordinator: Wayman, Gary Allen
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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.