# The Impact of Maternal Obesity on the Reprogramming of the Metastatic Microenvironment

> **NIH NIH K01** · UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME · 2020 · $103,375

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The overall objectives of this proposal are two-fold: (1) to conduct an innovative research study that
evaluates the impact of maternal obesity on re-programming of the metastatic niche in offspring and (2) to
provide a robust career development and mentoring platform to promote the successful transition of the
Principal Investigator to an independent investigator. Obesity is a worldwide epidemic that is linked to many
cancer types and is associated with persistent inflammation. Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecological
cancer in U.S. women. Poor 5-year survival rates (<30%) are due to presentation of most women at diagnosis
with advanced stage disease with widely disseminated intraperitoneal metastasis. Metastatic tumor cells home
to adipocytes in omental tissue and to the mesothelial lining of the peritoneal cavity. As the influence of
maternal obesity on reprogramming of the intraperitoneal metastatic niche has not been evaluated, proposed
experiments will test the hypothesis that maternal obesity induces epigenetic changes in next generation
offspring, modifying the metastatic niche and thereby impacting ovarian cancer metastatic success. The
proposed research plan will utilize an in vivo model comprised of pregnant mice and their pups fed a high fat
diet (40% fat) relative to controls (10% fat) to characterize physical changes in the intraperitoneal metastatic
microenvironment as well as alterations in the transcriptome and/or methylome of key cellular components.
This information will be integrated into studies evaluating the impact of maternal obesity on ovarian cancer
metastatic success in next generation offspring. Successful completion of these aims will provide the Principal
Investigator additional training in advanced microscopy, transcriptomics and epigenomics, biostatistics and
bioinformatics, and translational pre-clinical ovarian cancer research. We have assembled an outstanding
multi-disciplinary Mentoring Team and designed a robust career development plan with well-defined objectives
to guarantee success. The strong background and work ethic of the Principal Investigator in collaboration with
the dedicated Mentoring Team will result in significant and impactful contributions to our understanding of
ovarian cancer metastasis while simultaneously contributing to enhanced diversity in the scientific workforce.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9980352
- **Project number:** 5K01CA218305-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME
- **Principal Investigator:** Tyvette Hilliard
- **Activity code:** K01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $103,375
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-08-01 → 2022-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9980352

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9980352, The Impact of Maternal Obesity on the Reprogramming of the Metastatic Microenvironment (5K01CA218305-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9980352. Licensed CC0.

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