Federal Grant Award Summary

Vanderbilt University Medical Center received a $449,242 Project Grant 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), effective May 1, 2026 through April 30, 2028. This award supports research investigating the effects of maternal metformin exposure and dietary patterns on fetal pancreatic islet beta-cell development and function using a translational non-human primate model. The research will utilize existing maternal-offspring phenotyping data and biological samples collected through a parent R01 award to characterize developmental impacts on offspring islet mitochondrial health, gene regulation, cell identity, and insulin secretion capacity.

The project addresses clinical concerns regarding increased metformin use during pregnancy beyond maternal diabetes treatment, given evidence linking fetal metformin exposure to reduced birth weight and increased childhood metabolic dysfunction risk. Using rhesus macaques exposed to clinically relevant metformin doses combined with either healthy or Western-style diet conditions, the research will elucidate mechanisms by which maternal metformin and dietary exposures may disrupt developmental programming of offspring glucose homeostasis and diabetes risk. The deliverables include comprehensive characterization of fetal islet phenotypes, metabolic outputs, and functional assessments intended to inform clinical guidance on metformin safety during pregnancy.