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

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · 2020 · $156,146

## 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:** 9944583
- **Project number:** 5K01DK115638-03
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- **Principal Investigator:** Shan Luo
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $156,146
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2018-07-01 → 2022-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9944583

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9944583, Neural Mechanisms of Overeating Among Children Exposed to Gestational Diabetes Mellitus In Utero (5K01DK115638-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9944583. Licensed CC0.

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