A life-course view of how early adversity shapes health as people grow up
Official title: A life course perspective on the effects of cumulative early adversity on health
Funded at University of Notre Dame · NIH-11530239 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant looks at how tough experiences in childhood and adolescence affect health and aging later in life, using data from people and animal studies to understand why some outcomes are worse and how social factors can help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Notre Dame NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Notre Dame, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2017 |
| Project end | March 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $78,876 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG053330-06A1S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11530239 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adolescents and adults who have experienced adverse environments in childhood and are willing to participate in long-term observational studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without identified exposure to early adversity or without access to follow-up opportunities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
The project follows a life-span view, exploring how negative environments in early life influence health and aging through adolescence into adulthood. It builds on prior primate research to connect early adversity, social support, and later health outcomes in humans. The team will examine sensitive developmental periods and test how multiple adverse experiences together impact aging and disease risk. Findings could point to timing and social factors that buffer risks and guide interventions for healthier aging.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform interventions during adolescence to improve long-term health and aging trajectories.
How similar studies have gone: Previous non-human primate work suggested accumulation of early adversity harms health, while social support can mitigate some effects; this study extends to human data.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Notre Dame
Notre Dame, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Archie, Elizabeth — University of Notre Dame
- Study coordinator: Archie, Elizabeth
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.