Healthy Brain and Child Development study network
Official title: 14/24 The Healthy Brain & Child Development National Consortium
Funded at University of California, San Diego · NIH-11518961 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant supports a national effort to map how genes and early-life experiences shape brain development in thousands of children from birth to age 10.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Diego NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (La Jolla, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,714,507 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055369-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518961 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children from birth up to age 10 and their mothers who participate at one of the 24 study sites.
✕Less likely to help
People outside the study area or those not enrolled in the cohort may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at multiple sites will collect MRI and EEG brain data, alongside behavioral and physiological measures and biospecimens, from 7,500 mothers and infants to track developmental trajectories. The project uses standardized procedures to build a large, diverse dataset that can help explain how prenatal and early-life exposures affect later brain growth and behavior. The goal is to create a shared resource that researchers and clinicians can use to understand and potentially prevent neurodevelopmental problems in children. Participants would contribute information across several years, with careful attention to safety, privacy, and ethical considerations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: A deeper understanding of how early experiences influence brain development could lead to better strategies to prevent neurodevelopmental problems in children.
How similar studies have gone: Large-scale harmonized brain-development studies have shown promise in revealing trajectories and risk factors for later outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Diego
La Jolla, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bandoli, Gretchen E. — University of California, San Diego
- Study coordinator: Bandoli, Gretchen E.
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.