Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) awarded Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation a Project Grant of $836,132 under the Allergy and Infectious Diseases Research program (CFDA 93.855) on June 17, 2026, with a completion date of May 31, 2031. This research initiative investigates the mechanisms by which maternal antibiotic exposure disrupts the transfer of secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) through breast milk to neonates. The research addresses a significant public health concern, as epidemiologic studies associate maternal antibiotic exposure with increased neonatal complications including late-onset sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis. The study will employ integrated research aims to characterize the magnitude and duration of milk antibody dysbiosis, elucidate underlying mechanisms involving impaired gut-to-mammary immune cell trafficking, and determine downstream effects on neonatal intestinal health and infection susceptibility.

This project generates biomedical research findings intended to improve understanding of maternal-neonatal immunology and inform clinical practices regarding antibiotic use during pregnancy. The deliverables include scientific knowledge regarding the gut-mammary immune axis, mechanistic insights into pathogen-reactive antibody generation, and evidence-based recommendations for protecting neonatal mucosal immunity during maternal antibiotic administration. The research will be conducted at the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania location of Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation, a nonprofit research organization with established expertise in women's health and federal research partnerships.