Optimizing antibiotic use in breastfeeding mothers and babies through microbiome and metabolomics
Official title: Optimization of Antibiotics in Mothers and their Breastfed Infants Using Pharmacomicrobiomic and Metabolomic Analyses
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11534382 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, patient-focused effort to understand how a mother’s antibiotic treatment affects her breastfed baby’s gut microbiome, immune responses, and vaccine readiness.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2026 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,190,453 |
| NIH project number | 3P50HD106463-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11534382 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with breastfeeding mothers and infants, particularly those exposed to maternal antibiotics in the perinatal period.
✕Less likely to help
Infants or families not exposed to maternal antibiotics or not contributing samples may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings together clinicians and basic scientists to study how antibiotics taken by mothers can pass to infants through breastmilk and close contact, shaping the infant’s gut bacteria and metabolite profile. It uses microbiome and metabolomic analyses, along with clinical data, to map exposure, microbiome changes, and potential effects on immune health and vaccines. The effort builds shared cores and resources so researchers across the national network can access data and tools to improve maternal-infant pharmacology. Families involved would contribute samples and clinical information to help tailor safer antibiotic practices in early life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could guide safer antibiotic use in breastfeeding mothers and optimize infant immune development and vaccine responses.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that maternal antibiotics can affect infant microbiomes; this project expands to metabolomics and immune endpoints with a translational focus.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tremoulet, Adriana H — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Tremoulet, Adriana H
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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.