Understanding the link between mothers' bodies, gut microbes, and depression during and after pregnancy
Official title: Prediction, mechanisms and causality: a systems biology approach to elucidate the role of the dynamic interplay between maternal and microbial systems in the pathobiology of perinatal depression
Funded at University of Illinois at Chicago · NIH-11193517 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project explores how the balance between a mother's body and her gut bacteria might contribute to depression during and after pregnancy, especially for Black and Latina women.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Chicago NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 16, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $655,227 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD113809-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11193517 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is particularly relevant for pregnant women, especially Black and Latina women, who are at higher risk for perinatal depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not experience perinatal depression may not directly benefit from this specific research.
What this research studies
Perinatal depression (PND) affects many pregnancies and can impact both mothers and babies, yet we don't fully understand its causes. Researchers believe that interactions between the gut and its microbial communities, known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis, play a key role in overall health and mood. This project will look closely at how these gut microbes produce important chemicals like serotonin and GABA, and how these processes might be different in women experiencing PND. By understanding these connections, we hope to find better ways to prevent, identify, and treat PND.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to predict, prevent, and treat perinatal depression, improving the health of mothers and their babies.
How similar studies have gone: Initial pilot results from a longitudinal study have shown associations between gut microbiota and depressive symptoms, suggesting promise for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Illinois at Chicago
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Penalver Bernabe, Beatriz — University of Illinois at Chicago
- Study coordinator: Penalver Bernabe, Beatriz
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Couples-based approach to prevent perinatal depression in rural India
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Couples-based approach to prevent perinatal depression in rural India
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Machine learning to tailor and prevent perinatal depression for pregnant and new mothers
A machine learning project at Carnegie Mellon aims to find personalized, scalable ways to prevent perinatal depression in pregnant people and new mothers.
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Online sleep therapy to prevent depression during and after pregnancy
This project will see whether an online cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia can help prevent depression during pregnancy and in the first year after childbirth for pregnant people with insomnia.
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Understanding how gut and body signals interact to influence perinatal depression
A study of pregnant people exploring how the gut microbiome and body signals contribute to depression during and after pregnancy.
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Couples program to prevent depression during pregnancy and after birth in rural India
A couples-based program to help first-time pregnant women and their partners in rural India lower the chance of depression during pregnancy and after childbirth.
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.