Effects of environmental exposures on child brain development and DNA markers
Official title: PRENATAL AND POSTNATAL EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL MIXTURES: NEURODEVELOPMENT AND DNA METHYLATION BIOMARKERS
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-10794269 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different metals and nutrients that pregnant moms and young kids come into contact with can affect how children's brains develop, and it hopes to find clues in their cord blood that show past exposures to these substances.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | November 1, 2022 |
| Project end | February 28, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $348,517 |
| NIH project number | 5R01ES031259-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-10794269 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women and their children, particularly those exposed to environmental pollutants or with dietary concerns.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have young children may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to various metals and nutrients during pregnancy and early childhood affects brain development in children. It aims to understand the combined impact of these environmental factors and identify specific DNA markers in cord blood that can indicate past exposures. By analyzing data from a pre-birth cohort, the study will measure levels of essential nutrients and metals to see how they influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. The goal is to provide insights that could help mitigate the negative effects of harmful exposures on children's cognitive abilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved guidelines for prenatal and postnatal nutrition, ultimately enhancing cognitive development in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that understanding the effects of environmental exposures on neurodevelopment can lead to significant public health advancements, indicating that this approach has potential for success.
Where this research is happening
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Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cardenas, Andres — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Cardenas, Andres
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.