Understanding how maternal exercise helps offspring health
Longitudinal Imaging of Maternal Exercise and Exerkine Effects on Offspring Metabolism
This project explores how exercise during pregnancy can lead to better health for children by looking at special hormones and body changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Maryland Baltimore NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11094108 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that exercise during pregnancy can have lasting positive effects on a child's well-being. This project aims to understand *how* these benefits happen, focusing on special exercise-induced hormones called exerkines. We are developing new imaging tools to track changes in metabolism, specifically in fat tissue, to see how exercise and these hormones affect the body. This work uses advanced imaging techniques to non-invasively detect these metabolic changes in a controlled setting.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational work is for future mothers interested in the long-term health benefits of exercise during pregnancy for their children.
Not a fit: Patients not interested in the mechanisms of maternal exercise or those seeking immediate clinical interventions would not directly benefit from this basic science project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the specific ways maternal exercise improves offspring health, potentially leading to new ways to support healthy pregnancies and children.
How similar studies have performed: While the general benefits of maternal exercise are recognized, this project pioneers new imaging methods to precisely track the metabolic effects of exercise and exerkines, making the methodology novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- University of Maryland Baltimore — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tee, Sui Seng — University of Maryland Baltimore
- Study coordinator: Tee, Sui Seng
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.