Healthy Brain and Child Development for Babies and Young Children
Official title: 12/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at Oregon Health & Science University · NIH-11373833 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows pregnant people, newborns, and children through age 10 to learn how early life experiences affect brain and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon Health & Science University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $84,051 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DA055363-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11373833 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people, newborns, and families willing to take part in imaging, tests, questionnaires, and periodic follow-up visits over several years are ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who are not pregnant, do not have young children, or who cannot attend visits or provide scans and biospecimens are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly.
What this research studies
If you enroll, researchers will follow you and your child from pregnancy or birth through the first 10 years of life. The study includes MRI and EEG brain scans, regular behavioral and developmental tests, health and family questionnaires, and collection of biospecimens like blood or saliva. Data are collected at 27 sites across the U.S. using a common protocol so results can be compared and combined. The project will create a large, public dataset to help doctors and scientists understand typical and atypical early brain development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could help detect and prevent developmental problems earlier and guide better care for children exposed to stress, substances, or other early hazards.
How similar studies have gone: Other large child cohorts and smaller infant imaging studies have produced useful findings, but this harmonized birth-to-10 national effort is larger and more focused on early exposures.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon Health & Science University
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sullivan, Elinor L. — Oregon Health & Science University
- Study coordinator: Sullivan, Elinor L.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.