Environmental influences on child health in American Indian communities follow-up cohort
Official title: Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes in the Northern Plains PASS-ECHO Cohort
Funded at Avera Mckennan · NIH-11348249 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, long-running study is following mothers and children to understand how prenatal and early-life factors affect obesity and brain development in diverse groups, including American Indian communities.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Avera Mckennan NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Sioux Falls, United States) |
| Project start | September 21, 2016 |
| Project end | May 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $5,788,790 |
| NIH project number | 5UH3OD023279-12 |
| Project ID | NIH-11348249 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant individuals and children in the PASS ECHO cohort, especially from American Indian and rural communities, who are enrolled or eligible for enrollment.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals outside the PASS ECHO program or without relevance to obesity and neurodevelopment risk factors may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project uses a well-established PASS ECHO infrastructure to enroll and retain participants across prenatal to childhood periods, including a preconception cohort. Researchers will analyze how prenatal stress and biomarkers, along with lifestyle exposures and nutrition, relate to obesity and neurodevelopment in children. The study emphasizes collaboration with communities to maintain high participation and adherence to the ECHO-wide protocol, especially in American Indian and rural populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could inform strategies to prevent childhood obesity and support healthy neurodevelopment in at-risk populations.
How similar studies have gone: Prior PASS ECHO and Safe Passage work has demonstrated the feasibility of large, collaborative cohorts and actionable insights into obesity-related outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Avera Mckennan
Sioux Falls, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Elliott, Amy J — Avera Mckennan
- Study coordinator: Elliott, Amy J
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.