# Neural Mechanisms of Overeating Among Children Exposed to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Utero

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2021 · $78,074

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
 Childhood obesity rate has been increasing dramatically, at great cost for health care and wellbeing. It
is highly likely that obesity will persist into adulthood; thus, identifying risk factors contributing to childhood
obesity is extremely critical so that prevention strategies can be taken early to reduce the obesity rate.
Research suggests that children who were exposed to gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in utero have
increased propensity of developing obesity. However, there are few human studies aimed to understand the
mechanisms explaining this relationship. The goal of this study is to test the hypothesis that in utero exposure
to GDM leads to abnormal development of brain pathways that regulate eating behavior, which in turn
increases food intake and risk for obesity in children. To accomplish this goal, the applicant and her team plan
to 1) examine effects of GDM on food intake; 2) associations of GDM exposure with structural and functional
connections between brain appetite and reward pathways; 3) explore whether changes in brain circuitry
involved in feeding behavior would mediate the link between GDM exposure and increased food intake thus
increasing risk for obesity. This will be the first study in humans to use multi-modal imaging techniques to
examine neural mechanisms of the link between GDM exposure and obesity risk.
 Through extensive mentor-directed training, course work and workshops, manuscript and grant
writings, scientific presentations at national conferences, the candidate will achieve three training goals 1)
strengthen knowledge about GDM physiology, pediatric obesity and nutrition in children (co-mentor Dr.
Kathleen Page); 2) build skills in multi-modal imaging, and learn computational methods (e.g., psychological-
physiological-interaction, independent component analysis, DTI fiber tracking, graph theory) to analyze
functional and structural connectivity data under supervision of Drs. Paul Thompson (primary mentor) and
Neda Jahanshad (co-mentor); 3) strengthen skills in advanced statistical modeling (e.g., mediation analysis)
(co-mentor Dr. Anny Xiang). By the end of the proposed training period, the candidate will be positioned
uniquely as a leader in investigating neural mechanisms for obesity risk in children exposed to maternal
diabetes in utero with skills from various disciplines, and compete for an independent R01 application.
Furthermore, this proposed project will help the candidate progress towards achieving her long-term career
goal, which is to become an independent and innovative research scientist dedicated to investigating
underlying mechanisms of obesity from a joint perspective of neuroscience, psychology and endocrinology.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10434598
- **Project number:** 3K01DK115638-04S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shan Luo
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $78,074
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2023-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10434598

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10434598, Neural Mechanisms of Overeating Among Children Exposed to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Utero (3K01DK115638-04S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10434598. Licensed CC0.

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