How infections and inflammation during pregnancy may affect teen brain development and mental health
The impact of prenatal maternal infection and inflammation on human brain development and psychopathology during adolescence
This research looks at whether infections or inflammation during pregnancy are linked to changes in the teenage brain and increased risk of mental health problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11372589 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project follows a large group of children whose mothers had detailed records of infections and inflammation during pregnancy and examines their brain scans and mental health in adolescence. Researchers combine trimester-specific infection histories and measures of inflammation from pregnancy with MRI measures of brain structure and function and with behavioral and psychiatric assessments in the offspring. The work uses the Generation R cohort, which provides a large sample and long-term follow-up to improve on prior smaller human studies. The team will analyze how the timing, type, and severity of maternal immune activation relate to adolescent brain measures and mental health outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are pregnant people and their children with documented infections or inflammatory markers during pregnancy who can be followed into adolescence.
Not a fit: People without pregnancy-related infection or inflammation, or those looking for immediate treatments for existing psychiatric conditions, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this observational project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If clear links are found, the results could help identify children at higher risk so they can receive earlier monitoring or preventive support.
How similar studies have performed: Animal studies have consistently shown effects of maternal immune activation on offspring brain and behavior, and smaller human imaging studies have reported similar hints, but large long-term human data are limited.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bergink, Veerle — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Bergink, Veerle
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 below.