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Maternal Microbiota and Breastmilk Bile Acids as Early Determinants of Infant Metabolic Health

Award Number: F30HD122467
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/16/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/15/2030

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Maternal Microbiota and Breastmilk Bile Acids as Early Determinants of Infant Metabolic Health - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Childhood obesity, which affects 1 in 5 U.S. children, dramatically increases the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease later in life. Early-life nutrition, particularly during lactation, plays a critical role in shaping long-term metabolic health. Although breastfeeding is generally associated with improved outcomes, recent evidence indicates that a maternal high-fat diet during lactation can predispose offspring to excess weight gain and metabolic dysfunction. One potential mediator of these effects is bile acids—bioactive metabolites present in breast milk that are shaped by maternal diet and gut microbiota—whose role in early-life metabolic programming remains poorly understood. We recently developed novel small animal models to manipulate the milk bile acid pool and demonstrated that reducing milk bile acids completely prevented maternal high-fat diet–induced excess weight gain in offspring. This effect required neonatal expression of the bile acid receptor TGR5, suggesting a direct role for milk bile acids in regulating infant metabolism. In Specific Aim 1, I will test the hypothesis that transient activation of neonatal TGR5 by milk bile acids durably reprograms metabolism through epigenetic modifications. In Specific Aim 2, I will determine how maternal environmental factors—including diet and the gut microbiota—modulate the milk bile acid pool and influence offspring growth, and whether maternal live bacterial therapeutics can restore healthy metabolic programming. Impact: These studies will uncover a previously unrecognized role for maternal bile acid signaling in shaping metabolic health and may inform microbiome- or diet-based strategies to prevent childhood obesity.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $44,303 )
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	1	6/30/2026	NEW	$0
2026	2026	UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA	1523 UNION RD RM 207	GAINESVILLE	FL	32611	ALACHUA	USA	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	6/30/2026	NEW	$44,303
														Subtotal = $44,303

Grand Total All Awards = $44,303

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Maternal Microbiota and Breastmilk Bile Acids as Early Determinants of Infant Metabolic Health

Award Number: F30HD122467

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/16/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/15/2030

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