Research in the InfantRisk Center
Research at the InfantRisk Center
For many medications, information about use while breastfeeding is limited. We study how drugs, and some foods, hormones and toxins, transfer into human milk to help close these gaps.
Our work depends on mothers who are willing to share small milk samples while taking medications we're studying. By volunteering for a study, you can help our researchers provide better answers for breastfeeding families and their healthcare teams.
Medications we're studying
If you're breastfeeding and taking one of the medications below, we'd like to hear from you. Choose your medication to open our volunteer form. If yours isn't listed, you can still fill out the form and select “Other.”
- ADHD stimulants Vyvanse, Adderall, Ritalin, Concerta
- Amiodarone Aratac, Cordarone
- Canagliflozin Invokana, Invokamet
- Cannabis Marijuana
- Dapagliflozin Farxiga, Xigduo, Qternmet
- Doxylamine Unisom
- Empagliflozin Jardiance, Synjardy, Glyxambi, Trijardy
- Fentanyl Sublimaze
- Lugol's Solution / SSKI Iodine, often given before thyroid surgery
- Meloxicam Mobic
- Memantine Namenda
- Naproxen Aleve
- Seaweed soup Iodine-rich traditional postpartum food
How to participate
You don't need to live near Amarillo. We mail you a collection kit, and return shipping is prepaid.
Most volunteers donate once. The kit includes instructions and the timing specific to your study.
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01
Check eligibility
See whether you're breastfeeding and taking a medication we're studying. If you're pregnant and expect to continue taking it after delivery, you can sign up now.
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02
Connect with our team
Complete the volunteer form with your medication, dose, start date, and baby's age. Our nurses will contact you if your situation fits an active project.
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03
Donate a small milk sample
If enrolled, we'll send a collection kit with instructions. Only a small amount is needed and prepaid overnight return shipping is included.
What happens to your sample?
When your sample arrives, it's labeled with a code instead of your name and stored in our research freezers as part of the InfantRisk Human Milk Biorepository.
Our lab measures the medication in your milk using mass spectrometry. Because we know when each sample was collected in relation to your dose, we can estimate how much a breastfed baby might take in.
Volunteers from across the United States contribute to this growing biorepository. Stored samples can support future studies, too.
What we've learned from donated milk samples
The InfantRisk Center has contributed to more than 70 peer-reviewed studies on medications and breastfeeding. Recent studies built on volunteer samples include semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy) and sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto). Both studies found low drug transfer into breast milk.
