Healthy Brain and Child Development at UAB and UA

HEALthy Brain and Child Development Study at UAB and UA

NIH-funded research University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11138769

This project is learning how genes and environment shape brain development in children from birth to age 10.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Birmingham, United States)
Project IDNIH-11138769 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This project aims to understand how a child's brain develops during their first 10 years of life. We want to see how early experiences, both good and bad, like exposure to certain substances or stress, can affect this development. To do this, we are gathering information from a large group of mothers and their children across the country. We will use brain imaging, behavioral tests, and biological samples to create a complete picture of healthy development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are mothers and their infants who are willing to participate in a long-term project tracking development from birth up to 10 years of age.

Not a fit: Patients not within the age range of newborns to 10 years old, or those not interested in long-term observational participation, would not directly benefit from this specific opportunity.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: This work could help us better understand how early life experiences influence a child's brain development, potentially leading to new ways to support healthy growth and address challenges.

How similar studies have performed: While individual aspects of child development have been studied, this project is unique in its large scale, comprehensive approach, and long-term tracking of a diverse US population.

Where this research is happening

Birmingham, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.