About the projects underway

The successful operation and outcome of our MPRINT CET is accomplished through 3 Projects (Clinical, Basic Science and Data Science) an Administrative Core and two Science Cores, the Milk Analytics Core (MAC) and Pharmacometrics and Analytical Chemistry Core (PACC).

In the Clinical Project “Antibiotic Treatment in Breastfeeding Mothers: Effects on Milk, Microbiome, and Infant Outcomes”, we have proven expertise and infrastructure and access to a high enrolling maternal-infant clinical cohort to study how maternal antibiotics alter breast milk composition and impact infant outcomes in clinically meaningful ways.

In the Basic Science Project “The Impact of Ampicillin and Breast Milk Oligosaccharides on the Infant Microbiome and Immune Functions”, we leverage extensive experience in mouse models of neonatal host-pathogen interactions to probe functional effects of ampicillin and MMOs on infant immune function, including a novel cross-fostering strategy with wild-type and MMO-deficient mothers.

In our Data Science Project “Impact of Maternal Antibiotics on the Breastfeeding Infant Microbiome and Metabolome”, we deploy advanced MS technology, non-invasive sampling and innovative molecular networking analytics in a cutting-edge study of the impact of breast milk antibiotic exposure on the infant microbiome, metabolome and hepatic Cyp enzymes.

The MAC provides milk collection protocols and kits, near infrared spectroscopy and HPLC, HMO/MMO and nutritional composition analysis, and new assay validation expanding our MPRINT CET analytical capabilities, while the PAC develops and validates novel quantitative assays and physiologic and semi-physiologic models to describe and predict maternal and infant antibiotic PK during breastfeeding.

Our Administrative Core oversees integration and performance of our research projects/cores and their milestones, connecting them to the national MPRINT CET HUB and unique training/pilot projects.