Federal Grant Award Summary

Rutgers The State University of New Jersey (RBHS-School of Nursing) received a $716,069 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) under the Diabetes, Digestive, and Kidney Diseases Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.847) beginning March 1, 2026 and concluding February 28, 2031. The award funds research examining the association between gestational antidepressant exposure and pediatric gastrointestinal motility disorders and disorders of gut-brain interaction. The project will assess whether antidepressant use during pregnancy increases the risk of life-threatening conditions such as Hirschsprung's disease and pediatric intestinal pseudo-obstruction, as well as common functional disorders including irritable bowel syndrome, functional abdominal pain, constipation, and dyspepsia.

The research will utilize three large healthcare utilization databases in the United States and the United Kingdom to determine whether in utero antidepressant exposure—which modulates serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine during critical periods of enteric nervous system development—results in long-term functional impairments of the gastrointestinal tract and associated motility disorders. This investigation addresses a significant knowledge gap regarding the potential disruption of fetal enteric nervous system development and aims to identify modifiable risk factors that could inform prevention strategies for these pediatric gastrointestinal conditions.