Award
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 1F31HD117458-01A1
Investigating the influence of human milk oligosaccharides on bacterial-immune dynamics in the gravid vaginal tract
Recipient
Baylor College of Medicine
Award Amount
$49,538.00
Ceiling
$49,538.00
Awarded
July 28, 2025
Identifier
1F31HD117458-01A1
Research project funded by NICHD to study the effects of human milk oligosaccharides on the vaginal microbiome during pregnancy, aiming to find alternatives to antibiotics for limiting pathogen colonization.
Description
This project aims to identify if human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) impact the vaginal microenvironment during pregnancy and assess their potential as a therapeutic alternative to antibiotics to limit pathogen colonization. The study will investigate the utilization of HMOs by vaginal bacteria, the impact of HMO supplementation on vaginal microbial communities, and the potential of exogenous HMOs to promote a health-associated vaginal microbiome supporting optimal microbiome transfer to the infant.