# The Gut Microbiome in Autism

> **NIH NIH R01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2020 · $693,049

## Abstract

PROJECT ABSTRACT
Exposure to maternal obesity in utero perturbs the organization and maturation of the neural circuitry required
for the development of a child’s mental health. In view of the concomitant increase in the prevalence of both
obesity and Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), we crucially need to understand the relationship between the
two. While maternal obesity significantly increases the risk of ASD in children, how maternal obesity leads to
neurodevelopmental disorders in offspring remains unknown. By combining metagenomics, metabolomics,
molecular biology, genetics, electrophysiology and behavioral studies both on conventionally colonized and on
germ-free mice, we will test the hypothesis that maternal high fat diet (MHFD) induces a shift in microbial
ecology which perturbs social behavior and related changes in synaptic strength in offspring. In addition, we
will study the gut-brain axis and specific metabolites responsible for MHFD-mediated ASD-like behaviors in
offspring. By defining the basic molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying MHFD-induced ASD, the
knowledge gained in this study may also lead to new probiotic-based non-invasive treatments for millions of
patients suffering from ASD.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9993645
- **Project number:** 5R01MH112356-05
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $693,049
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-26 → 2021-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9993645

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9993645, The Gut Microbiome in Autism (5R01MH112356-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9993645. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*