Location: Microbiome and Metabolism Research
Project Number: 6026-10700-001-030-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Apr 1, 2026
End Date: Mar 31, 2028
Objective:
Early life factors (i.e., maternal diet, physical activity, stress, and neonatal diet) play a role in gut microbiota function and lifelong health outcomes. However, the precise mechanisms driving the health outcomes are unknown. The project plan will investigate the impact of the various early life factors on health leveraging clinical studies and animal and in vitro cell culture models. Objective: Investigate the role of maternal dietary intervention during pregnancy on fetal growth and child health outcomes.
Approach:
Investigate the impact of maternal prebiotics (fiber and HMOs) or blueberry or physical activity intervention during pregnancy on mitigating obesity induced effects on maternal-child health outcomes. We will use an established mouse model to induce obesity, and then we will examine the immune system, gut-liver, and gut brain axis. Samples will be processed for 16S sequence surveys, metabolomics, brain and liver assessments to reveal the composition of the bacterial microbial communities, microbial metabolites, and how they impact both fetal and offspring immune system, metabolism, brain and liver health with maternal interventions during pregnancy.