Healthy Brain and Child Development study consortium
Official title: 18/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr · NIH-11518973 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, nationwide effort to understand how genes and early life experiences shape brain development in thousands of babies and young children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,396,960 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055359-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518973 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Expectant mothers and children up to 10 years old who are enrolled at participating sites.
✕Less likely to help
Families not enrolled at participating sites or whose data are not yet available for analysis may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
This project enrolls 7,200 mothers and infants across 27 sites to collect MRI, EEG, behavioral data, and biospecimens over the first 10 years. It uses a harmonized protocol to map developmental trajectories and identify how prenatal and early-life exposures affect brain growth and behavior. The data and samples will be shared with researchers to advance understanding and improve care for children. The study is led by the HCAC with the HDCC coordinating data resources.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform safer environments and interventions to promote healthy brain development in children.
How similar studies have gone: Past large-scale neurodevelopment projects have shown that harmonized multi-site data can reveal robust developmental patterns.
Where this research is happening
-
University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Maxwell, Jessie R. — University of New Mexico Health Scis Ctr
- Study coordinator: Maxwell, Jessie R.
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
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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.
-
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.