Predicting how medications transfer into breast milk
Official title: PBPK Modeling & Simulation to Predict Transporter-Mediated Drug Secretion into Human Breast Milk
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11314961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $84,143 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD112282-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11314961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are lactating women who are taking medications and are concerned about their potential effects on breastfeeding infants.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not breastfeeding or who are not taking any medications will not benefit from this research.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hebert, Mary F — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Hebert, Mary F
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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.