Understanding how human milk changes to support infant health
Official title: Transcriptional variation in human milk
Funded at J. David Gladstone Institutes · NIH-11085054 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how human milk changes to provide the best nutrition and immune support for babies, and it aims to help parents who have trouble breastfeeding by finding ways to improve milk production.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | J. David Gladstone Institutes NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $78,520 |
| NIH project number | 5F32HD114427-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085054 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are breastfeeding parents, particularly those experiencing difficulties with lactation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not breastfeeding or who have no interest in breastfeeding may not receive any benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the complex composition of human milk and how it adapts to meet the nutritional and immunological needs of infants. By analyzing cells from the mammary gland through advanced techniques like single cell RNA-sequencing, the study aims to uncover the transcriptional pathways that influence milk production. The goal is to identify factors that affect lactation and improve support for parents who struggle with breastfeeding. This research could lead to better interventions for enhancing milk production and ensuring infants receive optimal nutrition.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting breastfeeding parents, enhancing milk production, and ultimately benefiting infant health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using similar techniques have shown promise in understanding cellular functions in human milk, indicating that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
J. David Gladstone Institutes
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nyquist, Sarah Kate — J. David Gladstone Institutes
- Study coordinator: Nyquist, Sarah Kate
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
HOPE: a new approach to silencing HIV and preventing rebound
A large NIH grant is testing a combination strategy to turn off HIV genes in people on treatment so the virus stays gone and health improves.
-
Undo HIV: Understanding and targeting the active HIV reservoir
Aims to map and ultimately eliminate the HIV cells that stay active despite therapy to improve long-term control of HIV in people living with HIV.
-
TREM2 and TYROBP in Alzheimer's brain network changes
This grant looks at how microglial proteins TREM2 and TYROBP influence brain network excitability in people with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias.
-
Commensal respiratory viruses and how they interact with the human airway
A small NIH grant is exploring how the normal viruses living in our airways interact with our cells to stay harmless and support healthy breathing.
-
Targeted delivery systems to edit blood stem cells
Aims to safely deliver genome-editing tools to blood stem cells to treat diseases like acute myeloid leukemia.
-
Regionally Specific Transplants to Restore Breathing After Cervical Spine Injury
A patient-focused look at a study that aims to repair breathing circuits after cervical spinal cord injury using stem-cell–derived nerve cells and targeted neuromodulation.
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.