Location: Responsive Agricultural Food Systems Research Unit
Project Number: 3093-10700-001-009-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Jun 1, 2026
End Date: May 30, 2029
Objective:
Maternal diet, metabolic health and early nutrition are critical contributors to life-long health. Poor quality diets prior to and during pregnancy are associated with poor outcomes for mother and child. However, the factors that impact variability of metabolic responses to dietary components in pregnancy remain unknown. This agreement will leverage genetic variation of diversity outbred strains of mice to uncover precise genetic factors involved in metabolic health during pregnancy. The studies are critical to understand risk factors in pregnancy and develop precision nutrition approaches to improve health outcomes.
Approach:
Diversity Outbred (DO) mice offer a unique approach to model genetic variability present in human populations. Few studies have utilized this model in the context of pregnancy. This project will conduct studies of dietary manipulation with DO mice strains prior to pregnancy and analyze pregnancy and offspring outcomes across genetic backgrounds. Diets will be designed to mimic typical US diets and other dietary patterns (Mediterranean and Japanese diets) including processed and unprocessed components. Outcomes for pregnancy, placenta and offspring will be assessed using histological, molecular and multi-omic methods. These studies will examine 1) pregnancy outcomes (glucose tolerance in pregnancy, litter size, fetal weight); 2) placental epigenetic, gene and protein expression; 3) assess outcomes in offspring growth, development and metabolic outcomes. Critically the variation in these outcomes will be linked to genetic diversity in dams and identify specific variants contributing to susceptibility or resilience. Overall, this collaborative project will inform how dietary patterns interact with specific genetic makeup contributing to precision nutrition.