Sleep, gut microbes, and early weight gain in young children
Official title: The roles of sleep patterns and gut microbiota in rapid weight and fat gain early in life
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11289878 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to understand how sleep patterns and gut bacteria together influence rapid weight gain in babies and toddlers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2026 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $785,172 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HL184156-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11289878 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Infants and toddlers from birth up to 2 years old who are at risk for rapid weight gain.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not experience rapid weight gain or do not have suspected sleep or gut microbiome risk factors may see limited direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project follows infants and toddlers to see how their sleep and gut microbiome relate to quick increases in weight and body fat. It uses careful sleep tracking (actigraphy and diaries) and regular gut bacteria sampling over time to map patterns. The goal is to identify targets we could safely modify to prevent early obesity in the first two years of life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide simple, noninvasive ways to reduce early obesity risk by improving sleep and gut health.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data suggest links between sleep, gut microbiota, and early growth, but the full longitudinal impact needs confirmation.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tang, Minghua — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Tang, Minghua
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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.