Exploring how stress and family support affect children's cellular health.
Understanding dynamic correlates of children's telomere length: The interplay between cumulative risk exposure and relational processes
This study looks at how tough situations, like money problems or violence, can affect kids' health at a cellular level, and it also explores how having supportive parents can help protect them from these negative effects.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Champaign, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11260970 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research investigates how various stressors in a child's environment, such as economic hardship and exposure to violence, influence the length of their telomeres, which are indicators of cellular health. It aims to understand not only the negative impacts of these stressors but also how supportive relationships between parents can help mitigate these effects. By analyzing data from a longitudinal study, the research will track changes in children's telomere length over time in relation to their experiences and family dynamics.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children who are experiencing various forms of stress in their home or community environments.
Not a fit: Children who are not exposed to significant stressors or who are in stable, supportive environments may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to strategies that promote healthier development in children by addressing environmental stressors and enhancing family support.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown that environmental stressors can impact health outcomes, but this study's focus on dynamic risk factors and parental support is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Champaign, United States
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — Champaign, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kanter, Jeremy Brett — University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
- Study coordinator: Kanter, Jeremy Brett
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 below.