Understanding Gut Bacteria in Premature Babies
Official title: Population Genomic Analysis of Gut Microbial Colonization in Premature Infants
Funded at University of California Berkeley · NIH-11118883 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how antibiotics given to premature babies right after birth affect the helpful bacteria in their gut.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Berkeley NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Berkeley, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2011 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $744,269 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AI092531-15 |
| Project ID | NIH-11118883 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This project is part of a larger clinical trial involving premature infants who are clinically stable shortly after birth.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not premature infants or who do not meet the specific criteria for the NANO trial would not directly benefit from participation in this particular research.
What this research studies
For many years, premature babies have received broad-spectrum antibiotics shortly after birth to prevent early infections, even though most do not have sepsis. This project is linked to a larger clinical trial called NANO, which is comparing giving these antibiotics to a placebo (a treatment with no active medicine) in premature infants. Researchers will collect stool samples from babies and their mothers to see how different factors, like delivery method and maternal milk, influence the baby's gut bacteria. The goal is to understand if avoiding immediate antibiotics in stable premature infants leads to better health outcomes by supporting a healthier microbiome.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to changes in how antibiotics are used in premature infants, potentially improving their long-term health by protecting their developing gut microbiome.
How similar studies have gone: While the NANO trial challenges a long-standing practice, a large body of literature already suggests that early antibiotic exposure can disrupt the developing microbiome, indicating a basis for this novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Berkeley
Berkeley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Banfield, Jillian — University of California Berkeley
- Study coordinator: Banfield, Jillian
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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.