Healthy Brain and Child Development study at UAB and UA
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11518958 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, nationwide effort to map how genes and early life experiences shape brain development in thousands of babies and children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,161,158 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055322-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518958 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Mothers and infants enrolled at participating sites, with comprehensive data and biospecimen collection.
✕Less likely to help
Some families may not directly benefit from results, but contribute to a broader knowledge base.
What this research studies
This project follows children from birth through age 10 to create a common set of brain and behavioral measurements across diverse families. It uses MRI, EEG, behavioral tasks, and life history data to understand how early exposures and environments influence development. The study collects imaging, physiological data, interviews, and biospecimens across 27 sites to build a rich, shareable dataset for scientists and clinicians. The goal is to establish normative developmental trajectories so clinicians can better recognize and address atypical growth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the project could improve early identification of developmental issues and inform interventions to support healthier brain development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous large-scale neurodevelopment projects have shown that standardized measures can reveal meaningful developmental patterns across populations.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Newsom, Cassandra R. — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Newsom, Cassandra R.
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.