Early Life Adversity and Brain Development in Children at Risk for Mental Disorders
Official title: Early Life Adversity, Biological Embedding, and Risk for Developmental Precursors of Mental Disorders
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11368504 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows children from birth to age 8 to understand how early social disadvantage and immune and gut health relate to brain development and later mental health risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | May 22, 2018 |
| Project end | May 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,252,256 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH113883-09 |
| Project ID | NIH-11368504 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children from birth to 3 years old exposed to social disadvantage and their families, with ongoing follow-up through early childhood.
✕Less likely to help
Children without exposure to prenatal/early-life social disadvantage or who are not part of the study follow-up may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers are tracking 377 children from before birth through early childhood to see how prenatal and early-life stress from family finances and neighborhood conditions affect brain structure and function. They are studying immune system signals, gut microbiome, and caregiving quality to learn how these factors may shape risk for mood and behavior problems. The study builds on existing data to identify mechanisms and potential preventive strategies that could reduce childhood psychopathology. Participants contribute biological samples, imaging data, and caregiver information over several years to map these relationships.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better understanding of how early-life factors shape brain development could lead to targeted interventions that reduce risk of mental health problems in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has linked prenatal disadvantage and immune/gut factors to neurodevelopment changes and later psychopathology risk, supporting continued investigation.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Luby, Joan L. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Luby, Joan L.
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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.