How early life stress affects blood pressure and blood vessel health in teenagers
Official title: Early Life Stress-induced Reprogramming of Ambulatory Blood Pressure and Vascular Function in Adolescence
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11010888 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how stress in childhood, like family problems or neglect, can affect blood pressure and heart health during the teenage years, with the goal of finding ways to help prevent heart issues later in life.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | February 15, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $287,514 |
| NIH project number | 5P01HL158500-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11010888 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have experienced early life stress, such as abuse or neglect.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced early life stress or are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of early life stress on blood pressure and vascular function during adolescence. It aims to understand how experiences such as household dysfunction or neglect in childhood can lead to increased cardiovascular disease risk later in life. By studying both adolescents and animal models, the research seeks to identify critical clinical features and molecular pathways that link early life stress to cardiovascular health. The findings could help in developing early interventions to prevent or reduce cardiovascular issues in affected individuals.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early interventions that significantly reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in adolescents who have experienced early life stress.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has established a link between early life stress and adult cardiovascular disease, suggesting that this approach has a foundation in existing findings.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Seifert, Michael Edward — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Seifert, Michael Edward
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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.