Healthy Brain and Child Development: studying early life to understand child development
Official title: 7/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11518967 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large, multi-site study in the US is following mothers and infants from pregnancy through age 10 to learn how genes, environment, and experiences shape neurodevelopment.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,570,565 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055350-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518967 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families with infants or pregnant individuals within the participating sites who consent to long-term imaging and assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Families not enrolled in the study or not meeting eligibility may not receive direct benefits.
What this research studies
This project brings together 27 sites to enroll 7,200 mothers and infants and collect MRI, EEG, behavioral, physiological, and biospecimen data. Researchers will use a harmonized protocol to track development over the first 10 years, aiming to build a normative picture of healthy trajectories and how hazards like substance exposure and stress could alter them. The study offers participants access to advanced brain imaging and comprehensive assessments, with data shared to advance science and improve child health in the long run.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform early-life interventions and policies to support healthier neurodevelopment for children.
How similar studies have gone: Prior large-scale neurodevelopment projects have shown that harmonized imaging and behavioral data can reveal developmental trajectories and risk factors.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Volk, Heather E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Volk, Heather E
Related research
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California Abundant Birth Project: does guaranteed income during pregnancy affect birth outcomes and 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.
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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.