Predicting how medications transfer into breast milk

PBPK Modeling & Simulation to Predict Transporter-Mediated Drug Secretion into Human Breast Milk

NIH-funded research University of Washington · NIH-11314961

This study is looking at how medications taken by breastfeeding moms can get into their breast milk and affect their babies, and it aims to create a computer model to help predict how much of the medicine might be present in the milk, so moms can make informed choices about breastfeeding while on medication.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Washington NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Seattle, United States)
Project IDNIH-11314961 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how medications taken by breastfeeding women can transfer into breast milk, potentially affecting infants. It aims to develop a predictive model that uses computer simulations to estimate the concentration of drugs in breast milk based on their presence in the mother's blood. By understanding these transfer mechanisms, the study seeks to balance the benefits of breastfeeding with the risks of medication exposure to infants. This approach is particularly important as traditional clinical studies in lactating women are often impractical.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are lactating women who are taking medications and are concerned about their potential effects on breastfeeding infants.

Not a fit: Patients who are not breastfeeding or who are not taking any medications will not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could help ensure safer breastfeeding practices by providing critical information on medication exposure for infants.

How similar studies have performed: While there have been studies on drug transfer into breast milk, this specific predictive modeling approach is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.

Where this research is happening

Seattle, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Breast Cancer Resistance Protein
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.