Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
Official title: 20/24 The Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at University of Vermont & St Agric College · NIH-11518982 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A nationwide study follows mothers and infants from pregnancy through early childhood to map how genes and environments shape brain development and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,568,159 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055354-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518982 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are pregnant individuals and their offspring enrolled from infancy up to age 10 in diverse U.S. communities.
✕Less likely to help
Families not willing or able to participate in long-term imaging, assessments, or biospecimen collection may not benefit directly.
What this research studies
This project enrolls 7,200 mothers and infants at 27 U.S. sites to collect brain imaging, EEG, behavioral, physiological, and biospecimen data over the first 10 years of life. It uses harmonized protocols and a large, diverse sample to create developmental templates and understand how prenatal and early-life exposures influence outcomes. Researchers will share a rich, well-curated dataset with the broader scientific community to advance knowledge about neurodevelopment and risk factors. The study aims to inform interventions and policies that protect children’s brain development in real-world settings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve early identification of developmental risks and guide strategies to reduce harmful environmental impacts on children's brain development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous neurodevelopmental efforts show that large, harmonized data can reveal robust developmental patterns across diverse populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Vermont & St Agric College
Burlington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Potter, Alexandra S — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Potter, Alexandra S
Related research
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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 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.
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Healthy Brain and Child Development for the next generation
A large, long-term study follows thousands of mothers and young children to map how brain development unfolds from birth through early childhood in diverse families.
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.