Healthy Brain and Child Development: a large study tracking how early life experiences shape child brain growth
Official title: 9/24- Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at Northwestern University · NIH-11518965 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows thousands of mothers and infants to map how genes, environments, and early experiences influence brain development over the first 10 years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northwestern University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,567,968 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055355-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518965 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Expectant mothers and their infants, including diverse populations across the US, from pregnancy through early childhood.
✕Less likely to help
Families not enrolled or not meeting participation criteria for imaging, biospecimen collection, or follow-up visits may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
The Healthy Brain and Child Development Consortium will enroll about 7,200 mother-infant pairs across 27 sites to collect brain imaging, EEG, behavioral data, and biospecimens. Researchers will harmonize protocols and create a rich, shared dataset to chart typical developmental trajectories in diverse populations. The goal is to understand how prenatal and early-life exposures affect neurodevelopment and long-term outcomes, with findings shared with the scientific and medical communities to improve care for children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could inform safer environments and early interventions to support healthy brain development in children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large, harmonized developmental studies have shown that standardized imaging and behavioral data can reveal important developmental patterns; this project builds on those foundations with a broader scope.
Where this research is happening
-
Northwestern University
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wakschlag, Lauren S — Northwestern University
- Study coordinator: Wakschlag, Lauren S
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Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
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Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
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Healthy Brain and Child Development in the US: a large, multi-site study of early life factors
A large nationwide study follows mothers and their babies from birth to age 10 to understand how genes and early life experiences shape brain development.
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Healthy Brain and Child Development: a big study following kids from birth through age 10
A large, nationwide study will follow 7,200 mothers and their babies to map how early life experiences shape brain growth and development.
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.