Wenjia Wang, a PhD candidate in biostatistics and health data science at Pitt’s School of Public Health, has made significant advancements in understanding the maternal-fetal microbiome connection. Under the mentorship of Liza Konnikova (Yale) and George Tseng, professor of biostatistics and health data science, Wang is the first author of a study titled, "Do the bacterial metabolites in the fetal gut come over from the mother?" This research looks into how bacterial metabolites cross the placenta, influencing fetal immune development. The findings suggest that these metabolites are present in the fetal gut before birth, indicating a maternal origin and highlighting their role in preparing the neonatal immune system. This work emphasizes the importance of maternal health on fetal development and opens paths for further research in prenatal care. The paper is published in Microbiome.