Understanding Early Life Factors and Airway Health in New Jersey Children
New Jersey ECHO
This project explores how early life experiences, such as delivery method and antibiotic use, shape a child's gut bacteria and influence their risk for airway diseases like asthma.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11319108 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project aims to understand how a child's earliest experiences, even before birth and in their first year, can impact their long-term airway health. We know that things like how a baby is born (vaginal vs. C-section), whether they are breastfed or formula-fed, and early antibiotic use can change the helpful bacteria living in their body, called the microbiome. Researchers want to see how these changes in the microbiome might lead to conditions like asthma and allergic rhinitis later in childhood. A key focus is to understand if these connections are different for children from various racial and ethnic backgrounds, especially since some groups experience higher rates of asthma.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This research is relevant for mothers and children, particularly those aged 0-11 years, who have experienced early life factors such as cesarean section, infant formula feeding, or antibiotic use.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment for existing airway diseases may not directly benefit from this foundational research, as it focuses on understanding disease development rather than direct intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to prevent common airway diseases like asthma and allergic rhinitis by understanding and supporting a healthy microbiome from early life.
How similar studies have performed: Previous basic science and epidemiological studies, including work with mouse models, have shown connections between early life microbiome changes and airway diseases.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barrett, Emily S — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Barrett, Emily S
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 below.