Project Grant R21HD119668

Federal Grant Award Summary

The University of California, San Diego received a $438,375 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865) for research investigating the role of milk extracellular vesicles (MEVs) in offspring metabolic programming. The award, effective June 10, 2026, through May 31, 2028, supports investigator-initiated research examining how maternal obesity alters the composition of breast milk extracellular vesicles and subsequently influences fat development and metabolic function in offspring. The research employs mouse models and advanced molecular techniques to elucidate mechanisms by which specific microRNAs contained in milk-derived extracellular vesicles may program adverse metabolic outcomes intergenerationally.

This research directly addresses a critical public health gap by investigating a novel biological pathway linking maternal obesity to offspring obesity and metabolic dysfunction. The study's findings have translational relevance to human health, as key microRNAs identified in mouse milk extracellular vesicles are conserved in human breast milk. By clarifying the mechanisms through which milk extracellular vesicles modulate offspring adiposity and metabolism, the funded research aims to generate evidence that could inform novel preventive strategies to interrupt intergenerational transmission of obesity and related metabolic disorders.