The alarming rise in chronic diseases among children, including metabolic disorders, allergies, and neurodevelopmental conditions, necessitates a deeper understanding of the early-life origins of health and disease.
While established risk factors like gestational diabetes are known to impact child health, emerging evidence suggests that maternal inflammation during pregnancy plays a crucial role in "programming" these adverse outcomes.
However, the specific inflammatory patterns in expectant mothers and their longterm consequences for children remain poorly defined.
This research aims to address this critical knowledge gap by identifying and characterizing distinct maternal inflammatory profiles, termed "Inflammatypes," using a comprehensive panel of immune markers.
By analyzing these Inflammatypes in relation to maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and child health trajectories, the study will provide crucial insights into how variations in maternal inflammation contribute to diverse health outcomes in children.
Furthermore, integrating microbiome data will enable the investigation of potential microbial signatures associated with these inflammatory patterns, shedding light on the complex interplay between the maternal microbiome, inflammation, and child health.
Ultimately, this research has the potential to inform the development of targeted prevention and intervention strategies aimed at optimizing both maternal and child health, thereby mitigating the societal burden of chronic diseases.
Investigators:
- Dr David Martino, The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Dr Nina D'Vaz, ORIGINS Biobank Manager, The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Professor Jeff Keelan, University of Western Australia
- Professor Desiree Silva, ORIGINS Co-Director, The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Dr Matthew Cooper, The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Dr Sarah Whalan, ORIGINS Data Manager, The Kids Research Institute Australia