Predicting which kids will grow into obesity using early-life data
Official title: Predicting Childhood Growth Trajectory from Early-life Molecular and Clinical Markers
Funded at Mainehealth · NIH-11624834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Aimed at kids 0-11, this project uses early health data and biology to forecast obesity risk so parents and doctors can act early.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Mainehealth NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $292,957 |
| NIH project number | 5P20GM121301-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11624834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children from birth through 11 years old, especially those at risk for rapid weight gain or obesity.
✕Less likely to help
Children whose growth trajectories do not indicate obesity risk or who prefer not to participate in genetic or long-term data collection.
What this research studies
This project will build machine-learning models that use early-life clinical measurements and molecular markers to predict how children will grow and whether they may become obese. It will compare traditional clustering with time-series models to find robust growth-trajectory patterns that are easy for clinicians to interpret. It will also examine genetic variations and cord-blood DNA methylation as predictors of these growth patterns, aiming to create a validated, practical tool before obesity develops.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could have a personalized risk tool to guide early prevention efforts for healthy growth.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that growth patterns can be linked to later obesity, with machine-learning approaches offering improved prediction in some cohorts.
Where this research is happening
-
Mainehealth
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jin, Qingchu — Mainehealth
- Study coordinator: Jin, Qingchu
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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.