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The roles of sleep patterns and gut microbiota in rapid weight and fat gain early in life

Award Number: R01HL184156
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/05/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2030

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The roles of sleep patterns and gut microbiota in rapid weight and fat gain early in life - ABSTRACT The overall objective of this project is to identify independent and potentially interactive effects of the gut microbiota and sleep patterns on rapid weight/fat gain in infants and toddlers. The first two years of life represent a transition period of substantial developmental plasticity and account for over 70% of the “First 1000 Days” developmental window. Rapid weight gain during this period is one of the main drivers of obesity and metabolic syndrome development in children and adolescents. Identifying risk factors that can be effectively targeted is critical before interventions to reduce rapid weight/fat gain in infants and toddlers can be successfully implemented. This proposal focuses on two promising potential risk factors: sleep patterns and gut microbiota. Emerging research, although limited, suggested that sleep and gut microbiota could represent promising health targets that can be modified non-invasively to prevent infant rapid weight gain. Our pilot studies showed a significant portion of U.S. infants have rapid weight gain; infants who experienced rapid weight gain also had higher %body fat; germ-free mice that received fecal transplants from infants who had rapid weight gain also had higher fat gain; infant sleep parameters, measured by actigraphy, are associated with gut microbiota and growth Z scores. In the proposed project, we will employ frequent, longitudinal assessments of sleep patterns using actigraphy and sleep diary, the gut microbiota using 16S rRNA sequencing and fecal metabolomics, and weight and fat gain using weight, length and body composition measures. Some major strengths of the project include addressing a significant public health concern by evaluating novel and promising risk factors and their interactions, using a comprehensive, longitudinal assessment of objective sleep measures, body fat distribution, quantitative dietary intake and novel mediation analysis. Currently, effective interventions to prevent rapid weight and fat accumulation are still lacking, and this project will generate much-needed and timely evaluation of potential mechanistic links between sleep, gut microbiota, growth trajectories, and body composition changes in infants and toddlers. Findings from this project will inform targeted interventions to modulate these risk factors and prevent rapid weight and fat gain early in life.


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 = $785,172 )
2026	2026	COLORADO STATE UNIVERSITY	601 S HOWES ST	FORT COLLINS	CO	80521	LARIMER	USA	National Center on Sleep Disorders Research	000	1	7/7/2026	NEW	$785,172
														Subtotal = $785,172

Grand Total All Awards = $785,172

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The roles of sleep patterns and gut microbiota in rapid weight and fat gain early in life

Award Number: R01HL184156

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/05/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2030

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