Family-based program to boost health and development for vulnerable adolescent girls
Official title: “Testing the Impact of Family-based Intervention to Improve Developmental and Health Outcomes for Female Adolescents.”
Funded at New York University · NIH-11402244 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A scalable, family-centered program aims to improve nutrition, mental health, and healthy behaviors for at-risk girls ages 11–14 in northern Ghana.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $336,471 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD116780-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402244 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are 11–14-year-old girls at risk of school dropout in low-resource communities, with family support available for participation.
✕Less likely to help
Girls without family involvement or in settings where school-based delivery is not feasible may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project tests a multicomponent, family-focused intervention (ANZANSI) delivered through public junior high schools in Northern Ghana to support girls at risk of dropping out. It uses a cluster-randomized effectiveness trial with 32 schools and 960 participants to see if the program improves school engagement, nutrition, and psychosocial wellbeing. The research will track outcomes over time to understand how family functioning and household stability influence health trajectories during early adolescence. The study is designed so that if successful, the approach could be scaled within similar low-resource settings to help more girls stay healthy and in school.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the program could help more adolescent girls in low-resource settings achieve better health, nutrition, and educational outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous related work suggests family-centered, school-linked approaches can improve health and schooling outcomes, though results vary by setting.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sensoy Bahar, Ozge — New York University
- Study coordinator: Sensoy Bahar, Ozge
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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.