Healthy Brain and Child Development across Early Childhood
Official title: 16/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at Univ of Maryland, College Park · NIH-11369438 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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 start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $59,274 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DA055316-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11369438 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
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.
✕Less likely to help
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.
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.
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 gone: 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
-
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
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
California Abundant Birth Project: does guaranteed income during pregnancy affect birth outcomes and child development?
A government-backed program gives pregnant people in California monthly income to reduce stress, with researchers studying how this helps birth outcomes and early child development.
-
Father-inclusive parenting program to boost early child development
A family-focused program tests whether including fathers in responsive parenting support leads to better outcomes for young children.
-
Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
This project studies how genes and early-life environments affect brain development in thousands of babies and young children.
-
Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
A nationwide study follows mothers and infants from pregnancy through early childhood to map how genes and environments shape brain development and behavior.
-
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.
-
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.