Healthy Brain and Child Development across Early Childhood
16/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Following 7,500 pregnant people and their children from before birth through age 10 with brain scans, behavior checks, and biological samples to track how early life experiences shape development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of Maryland, College Park NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (College Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11369438 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will collect MRI and EEG brain measures, behavioral and psychological tests, physiological data, and biological samples from you and your child at regular visits. The project enrolls families at 24 sites across the United States and follows children from the prenatal period through age 10. Data will be combined into a large, diverse dataset so scientists can map typical brain and behavioral development and how prenatal and early-life exposures (like substance exposure, stress, or environmental toxins) change that course.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Pregnant people and their newborns (and families willing to take part in follow-up visits through the child's first 10 years) at or near one of the participating US sites are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, do not have young children, or cannot attend visits at a participating site are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly, and this is an observational effort rather than a treatment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians spot early signs of altered brain development and guide better prevention and support for children and families at risk.
How similar studies have performed: Large cohort efforts like the ABCD study have produced valuable insights into brain development in older children and adolescents, but this consortium is novel in starting before birth and integrating prenatal exposures with longitudinal brain and biological measures.
Where this research is happening
College Park, United States
- Univ of Maryland, College Park — College Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fox, Nathan a — Univ of Maryland, College Park
- Study coordinator: Fox, Nathan a
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.