We collaborate with researchers throughout UC San Diego as well as other universities and hospitals to analyze human milk samples and clinical data from our biorepository. Check out the projects that have used Mommy’s Milk samples. Explore analyses, collaborator’s labs, and the variety of topics that involve human milk!
Analysis of Lead in Human Milk Samples After Maternal Report of Elevated Infant Blood Lead Levels
Dr. Euhna Hoh
San Diego State University
Goal: Analyze the concentration of lead in human milk samples from lactating parents with normal blood lead levels whose children showed signs of lead exposure.
Publication:
Tran CD, Dodder NG, Quintana PJE, et al. Organic contaminants in human breast milk identified by non-targeted analysis. Chemosphere. 2020;238:124677. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.124677
The Association Between Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences and Marijuana Use During Lactation
Dr. Daniel Crouch
UC San Diego
Goal: Examine how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) influence marijuana use in lactating individuals and whether positive childhood experiences (PCEs) modify this relationship.
Publication:
Crouch D, Chambers C, Bertrand K, Bandoli G. The Association Between Adverse and Positive Childhood Experiences and Marijuana Use During Lactation. Breastfeed Med. 2023;18(3):212-218. doi:10.1089/bfm.2022.0243
The Association Between Maternal Psychological Health and Human Milk Oligosaccharide Composition
Dr. Hannah Reidy
Duke University
Goal: Evaluate associations between maternal symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress and the concentrations of 19 prevalent human milk oligosaccharides in breast milk samples.
Publication:
Reidy H, Bertrand K, Chambers C, Bandoli G. The Association Between Maternal Psychological Health and Human Milk Oligosaccharide Composition. Breastfeed Med. 2024;19(11):837–47. doi:10.1089/bfm.2024.0179
Bioactive Lipids in Human Milk
Dr. Mohit Jain
UC San Diego
Goal: Measure bioactive lipids in human milk, which may enhance or prevent the development of early childhood disease, including asthma and allergies.
Cannabinoids in Human Milk
Dr. Brookie Best
UC San Diego
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Goal: Measure the quantity of cannabinoids (∆9-THC, 11-OH-THC, CBD, and CBN) in human milk samples provided by lactating parents who reported recent marijuana use. Also evaluate child growth through medical record review, and child neurodevelopment through maternal report questionnaires and face-to-face testing.
Publication:
Bertrand KA, Hanan NJ, Honerkamp-Smith G, Best BM, Chambers CD. Marijuana Use by Breastfeeding Mothers and Cannabinoid Concentrations in Breast Milk. Pediatrics. 2018;142(3):e20181076. doi:https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-1076
Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies in Human Milk
Dr. Lars Bode
UC San Diego
Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MoMi Core)
Dr. David Camerini and Dr. Joe Campo
The Antigen Institute (ADI)
Goal: Analyze human milk samples to establish the presence of SARS-CoV-2-specific IgA and IgG. Additionally, characterize the specific antigenic regions of SARS-CoV-2 proteins that were reactive with antibodies in human milk from lactating parents with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Publication:
Bode L, Bertrand K, Najera JA, et al. Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in human milk from 21 women with confirmed COVID-19 infection. Pediatr Res. 2023;93(6):1626-1633. doi:10.1038/s41390-022-02360-w
Metabolomic and Exposomic Biomarkers
Dr. Robert Naviaux
UC San Diego
Mitochondrial and Metabolic Disease Center
Goal: Evaluate if the chemistry and xenobiotic profile of human milk differs according to the developmental risk status of the breastfed child by utilizing the results from a maternal report questionnaire that screens the development of children in five different domains.
Publication:
Li K, Bertrand K, Naviaux JC, et al. Metabolomic and exposomic biomarkers of risk of future neurodevelopmental delay in human milk. Pediatr Res. 2023;93(6):1710-1720. doi:10.1038/s41390-022-02283-6
Concentration of Etanercept in Human Milk
Dr. Brookie Best
UC San Diego
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Goal: Determine the concentration of Etanercept in human milk samples from parents prescribed this medication during lactation. In addition, we evaluated child growth through medical record review and child neurodevelopment through maternal report questionnaires.
Publication:
Bertrand K, Rossi S, Wells A, Best B, Chambers CD. The Concentration of Etanercept in Human Milk and Infant Outcomes. J Rheumatol. 2023;50(5):712-714. doi:10.3899/jrheum.220724
Concentration of Methotrexate in Human Milk
Dr. Shinya Ito
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Goal: Determine the concentration of Methotrexate in human milk samples from parents who were prescribed this medication while lactating.
Concentrations of remdesivir and GS-441524 in human milk from lactating individuals diagnosed with COVID-19
Dr. Brookie Best
UC San Diego
Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Goal: Examine what concentrations of medications used to treat COVID-19 are found in breastmilk.
Publication:
Bertrand, K., Sepulveda, Y., Spiegel, B.J. et al. Concentrations of remdesivir and GS-441524 in human milk from lactating individuals diagnosed with COVID-19. Pediatr Res 96, 269–272 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-024-03053-2
Consistency and Variability of the Human Milk Oligosaccharide Profile in Repeat Pregnancies
Dr. Lars Bode
UC San Diego
Goal: Compare human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) concentrations in human milk samples provided by the same women following repeat pregnancies by assessing dissimilarities in HMO concentration profiles, as well as concentration trends in individual structures between pregnancies of each participant.
Publication:
Renwick S, Rahimi K, Sejane K, Bertrand K, Chambers C, Bode L. Consistency and Variability of the Human Milk Oligosaccharide Profile in Repeat Pregnancies. Nutrients. 2024;16(5):643. Published 2024 Feb 25. doi:10.3390/nu16050643
The Design and Mechanics of an Accessible Human Milk Research Biorepository
Dr. Gretchen Bandoli
UC San Diego
We established Mommy’s Milk, a Human Milk Research Biorepository, as a well-characterized, accessible research resource that can contribute to better understanding of the characteristics of human milk, and potential effects of maternal medications, substances, and other environmental agents on the health and development of the breastfed infant/toddler.
Publication:
Bandoli G, Bertrand K, Saoor M, Chambers CD. The Design and Mechanics of an Accessible Human Milk Research Biorepository. Breastfeed Med. 2020;15(3):155-162. doi:10.1089/bfm.2019.0277
Detection of Norovirus-specific IgA in Breast Milk
Dr. Lam Nguyen
VaxArt
Goal: Develop and optimize an MSD assay to detect norovirus-specific IgA from breast milk. This will aid in the development of a vaccine that induced Norovirus antibodies in breast milk which would be of great value to public health.
The Effect of Cannabis Consumption During Lactation on the Macronutrient Concentrations in Breast Milk
Dr. Priyadharshini Narayanan
UC San Diego
Goal: Explore how cannabis use during lactation affects breast milk macronutrients by comparing breastmilk samples with detectable cannabis metabolites to those with no detectable metabolites.
Publication:
Narayanan P, Bertrand K, Waalen J, Chambers C, Ferran K, Bandoli G. The Effect of Cannabis Consumption During Lactation on the Macronutrient Concentrations in Breast Milk. Breastfeed Med. 2025 Jan;20(1):33-41. doi: 10.1089/bfm.2024.0083. Epub 2024 Nov 12. PMID: 39530127.
Effects of Maternal Medications on the Composition of Human Milk
Dr. Essi Whaites Heinonen
Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
Goal: Study whether chronically taken maternal medications such as antidepressants and anti-inflammatory medications could affect the composition of human milk. Specifically, the analysis compared the levels of macronutrients (carbohydrates, fat, and protein) measured in samples of human milk from mothers with and without these chronic medications.
Publication:
Whaites Heinonen E, Bertrand K, Chambers C. Macronutrients in Human Milk Exposed to Antidepressant and Anti-Inflammatory Medications. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(1):e2453332. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.53332
The Effects of Skimming Milk on Human Milk Composition
Dr. John Miklavcic
Dr. John Miklavcic
Chapman University
Goal: Evaluate the effects of skimming milk on human milk composition which will be beneficial to practitioners working with newly diagnosed VLCAD or chylothorax patients so that these patients may still receive the benefits of human milk nutrition.
Epigenetics in Longitudinal Breast Milk, Maternal Mental Health, and Child Growth
Dr. Amy Non
UC San Diego
Anthropology Department
Goal: Study associations between maternal perceived stress, depression, and anxiety on milk cortisol, miRNA expression levels, and infant growth across the postnatal period.
Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 in Human Milk from Infected Lactating Women
Dr. Lars Bode
UC San Diego
Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MoMi Core)
Dr. Grace Aldrovandi, Dr. Nicole Tobin, and Dr. Paul Krogstad
UC Los Angeles
Goal: Examine human milk samples for the presence of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, using RT-PCR and/ or viral culture. Milk samples that contained viral RNA were examined for the presence of subgenomic coronavirus RNA, which is a marker of infectivity.
Publication:
Chambers C, Krogstad P, Bertrand K, et al. Evaluation for SARS-CoV-2 in Breast Milk From 18 Infected Women. JAMA. 2020;324(13):1347-1348. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.15580
Expansion of mammary intraepithelial lymphocytes and intestinal inputs shape T cell dynamics in lactogenesis
Dr. Deepshika Ramanan
Salk Institute
Goal: Analyze T cells, specifically IELs, and test whether they are present in human breast milk by flow cytometry. Fresh milk samples were collected from participants and immediately transferred to be processed by removing milk fat followed by staining for T cell and IEL specific markers, and analyzing by flow cytometry.
Publication:
Jaquish A, Phung E, Gong X, et al. Expansion of mammary intraepithelial lymphocytes and intestinal inputs shape T cell dynamics in lactogenesis. Preprint. bioRxiv. 2024;2024.07.09.602739. Published 2024 Jul 13. doi:10.1101/2024.07.09.602739
Exploratory study on lead and other heavy metals in breast milk based on donor’s race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, geographic location, and potential sources of exposure
Dr. Shannon Leung
Dr. Shannon Leung
UC San Diego
Goal: In collaboration with the lab of Dr. Jeremiah Momper at the University of California, San Diego Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, we are measuring the quantity of heavy metal levels in human milk samples. Identify the risk of heavy metal exposure in fetuses and children through the testing of those breast milk samples.
Exploring Early Nutrition and Long-Term Health: Lipid Composition and DNA Methylation in Neonates
Dr. Theresa M. Casey
Purdue University
Goal: Measure lipid composition of infant cheek cells and maternal milk and collecting information on infant feeding practices to determine the relationship between milk fat composition, lipid composition of infant cells and nutrition the first weeks postnatal. Also explore neonate DNA methylation patterns of buccal cells to determine if they are related to infant feeding practices. This information may provide insight into the connection between early life nutrition and long-term health.
Exploring the Impact of Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases and its Treatments on Human Milk Composition
Dr. Rashmi Dhital
Vanderbilt University
Goal: Analyzing milk macronutrients, including carbohydrates, fat, protein, and total caloric content, in milk samples from breastfeeding mothers with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARDs) compared to those without. Additionally, explore how therapies used to treat ARDs may affect milk macronutrient composition. In a subset of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), we will further investigate milk micronutrients and human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs). This study will lay the groundwork for future research on breast milk in the ARD population.
Genotoxicants and the DNA Adductome of the Human Breast
Dr. Robert Turesky
University of Minnesota
Goal: Examine human milk from lactating parents who were either omnivores or vegetarians to identify if any chemicals found in cooked meats, which are potential mammary carcinogens, are present in the milk samples.
Publication:
Turesky RJ, Le Marchand L. Metabolism and biomarkers of heterocyclic aromatic amines in molecular epidemiology studies: lessons learned from aromatic amines. Chem Res Toxicol. 2011;24(8):1169-1214. doi:10.1021/tx200135s
The Heterogeneity of Maternal Milk Antibacterial Immunoglobulin A Response
Dr. Timothy Hand
Dr. Timothy Hand and Dr. Chelsea Johnson
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh
Goal: Evaluate the heterogeneity of human milk from lactating parents with multiple pregnancies by characterizing potential shifts in the maternal milk IgA repertoire over the course of multiple pregnancies.
Human Milk Oligosaccharides
Dr. Lars Bode
UC San Diego
Mother-Milk-Infant Center of Research Excellence (MoMi Core)
Goal: Measure the quantity of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in human milk samples. Evaluate which maternal and infant characteristics are associated with the various HMOs that are measured in our samples.
Publication:
Bode L. Human Milk Oligosaccharides: Structure and Functions. Nestle Nutr Inst Workshop Ser. 2020;94:115-123. doi:10.1159/000505339
Human Milk Polymorphisms Associated with Drug Metabolism
Goal: In collaboration with Vanderbilt University, the project will extract DNA and sequence human milk samples exposed to sertraline (Zoloft) for relevant polymorphisms associated with drug metabolism.
Macronutrient Profiling in Human Milk
Dr. Jae Kim
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Goal: Measure the quantity of macronutrients in human milk samples. Some of the macronutrients being measured include carbohydrates, fat, and protein (ng/mL). Also measure the total caloric count of the human milk samples being analyzed. Using this data, evaluate what maternal and infant characteristics may influence the macronutrients of human milk.
Maternal and Child Outcomes Reported by Breastfeeding Women Following Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccination
Dr. Christina Chambers
UC San Diego
Goal: Evaluate a cohort of vaccinated, lactating, women for vaccine-related symptoms and their breastfed children for any non-serious and serious adverse events.
Publication:
Bertrand K, Honerkamp-Smith G, Chambers CD. Maternal and Child Outcomes Reported by Breastfeeding Women Following Messenger RNA COVID-19 Vaccination. Breastfeed Med. 2021;16(9):697-701. doi:10.1089/bfm.2021.0169
Microbiome of Human Milk
Dr. Rob Knight
UC San Diego
Center for Microbiome Innovation
Goal: Classify the microbiome of human milk. Profile the human milk samples to see which bacteria are present and the most abundant in the human milk microbiome. In addition, evaluate what intrinsic and extrinsic factors of lactating individuals may influence and potentially change the human milk microbiome.
No Evidence of Infectious SARS-CoV-2 in Human Milk
Dr. Paul Krogstad
UC Los Angeles
Goal: Given the uncertainty surrounding the potential transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through breastfeeding, the goal is to analyze human milk samples from 110 women for the presence of the virus.
Publication:
Krogstad P, Contreras D, Ng H, et al. No Evidence of Infectious SARS-CoV-2 in Human Milk: Analysis of a Cohort of 110 Lactating Women. Preprint. medRxiv. 2021;2021.04.05.21254897. Published 2021 Apr 7. doi:10.1101/2021.04.05.21254897
Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic (PBPK) Modeling of Cannabidiol (CBD) in Human Milk
Dr. Cindy H.T. Yeung
The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Goal: Predict CBD exposure in breastfed infants from mothers taking CBD and CBD-containing products.
Publication:
Yeung CHT, Bertrand KA, Best BM, et al. Cannabidiol Exposure Through Maternal Marijuana Use: Predictions in Breastfed Infants. Clin Pharmacokinet. 2023;62(11):1611-1619. doi:10.1007/s40262-023-01307-6
Plg-RKT in Human Milk
Dr. Lindsey Miles
Scripps Research
Dr. Robert Parmer
UC San Diego
Goal: Develop an assay to evaluate whether Plg-RKT protein is detectable in membrane fractions from frozen milk samples. Plg-RKT protein may be involved in milk production, which could help us answer questions about lactating parents with milk supply challenges. Information from this study could potentially help lactating parents improve low milk supply.
The Presence of Non-Human Proteins in Human Milk
Dr. Katherine Luskin
Scripps Clinic
Goal: Explore the presence of non-human proteins in milk by mass spectrometry. The aim of this research was to better inform how specific components in human milk can impact the development of or protection from allergies.
Publications:
Luskin K, Leibel S, Majid Ghassemian, et al. Analysis of Non-Human Proteins/Peptides in Human Breast Milk by Mass Spectrometry. The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Published online February 1, 2020. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaci.2019.12.432
Luskin K, Mortazavi D, Bai-Tong S, et al. Allergen Content and Protease Activity in Milk Feeds from Mothers of Preterm Infants. Breastfeed Med. 2022;17(11):947-957. doi:10.1089/bfm.2022.0115
The Prevalence of Nonserious Events in a Cohort of Breastfed Infants
Dr. Ann Kelly
UC San Diego
Goal: Determine the prevalence of non-serious events in infants consuming breastmilk whose mothers reported no exposure to any prescription medications, tobacco, or recreational drugs in the previous 14 days. These baseline frequencies provide a benchmark for rates of recent non-serious events in breastfed infants in the general population and can be used as a reference point for studies that examine adverse events in breastfed infants following maternal use of prescription medications or exposures due to other lifestyle habits such as tobacco or other substances.
Publication:
Bertrand K, Kelly A, Chambers CD. The Prevalence of Nonserious Events in a Cohort of Breastfed Infants. Breastfeed Med. 2023;18(1):43-47. doi:10.1089/bfm.2022.0245
Vedolizumab and IgA Levels in Human Milk
Dr. Jesus Rivera-Nieves
UC San Diego
Goal: Examine if the drug vedolizumab (Entyvio®), a prescription medication for the treatment of moderate to severe ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease, interfered with the migration of antibody secreting cells (ASCs) to the mammary gland, thereby decreasing the amount of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) antibody levels in human milk.
Untargeted Mass Spectrometry of Human Milk
Dr. Pieter Dorrestin
UC San Diego
Goal: Identify metabolites present in human milk using an untargeted Mass Spectrometry approach. In addition, evaluate what maternal and infant characteristics are associated with the metabolites identified and how maternal report of medication and substance exposures compares to the laboratory results.
Publication:
Thomas S, Gauglitz JM, Tripathi A, et al. An untargeted metabolomics analysis of exogenous chemicals in human milk and transfer to the infant. Clin Transl Sci. 2022;15(11):2576-2582. doi:10.1111/cts.13393