Metformin exposure in pregnancy and its effects on child growth and metabolism
Official title: Impact of in utero metformin exposure on offspring growth and metabolic outcomes
Funded at East Carolina University · NIH-11319197 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant will study how taking metformin during pregnancy affects a child’s growth and metabolism, from infancy through childhood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | East Carolina University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Greenville, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $685,159 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD121242-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319197 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals with gestational diabetes who may be treated with metformin or insulin and their offspring.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals not treated with metformin or insulin, or children without exposure to these interventions.
What this research studies
The project follows children born to mothers treated with metformin for gestational diabetes to understand growth patterns, body composition, and energy use. It builds on lab findings about placental function and fetal cell metabolism to explore how in-utero exposure may influence obesity risk. By comparing metformin with insulin in a randomized design, it seeks clear signals about long-term metabolic outcomes in children. Researchers will analyze measurements like BMI, adiposity, lean mass, and energy expenditure in early life and beyond.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could clarify whether metformin exposure affects child growth and metabolic health, guiding safer treatment choices during pregnancy.
How similar studies have gone: Previous human trials have shown altered infant growth with in-utero metformin exposure, but long-term metabolic effects remain unclear.
Where this research is happening
-
East Carolina University
Greenville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Broskey, Nicholas — East Carolina University
- Study coordinator: Broskey, Nicholas
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.