How prenatal alcohol and smoking affect infant brain and body development

Neurodevelopmental Effects of Prenatal Exposure to Maternal Drinking, Smoking and Adverse Psychosocial Factors: Deep Phenotyping of Infant CNS and ANS Function

['FUNDING_R01'] · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · NIH-10817817

This study is looking at how things like drinking alcohol, smoking, and mental health challenges during pregnancy can affect how babies' brains and nervous systems develop, using smart technology to analyze information from many mothers and their babies to find helpful patterns.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_R01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorNEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC (nih funded)
Locations1 site (NEW YORK, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-10817817 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of maternal alcohol consumption, smoking, and mental health issues during pregnancy on the development of infants' central and autonomic nervous systems. By utilizing advanced machine learning techniques, the study aims to analyze existing data from a large cohort of mothers and infants to identify patterns and relationships between these prenatal exposures and later neurodevelopmental outcomes. The research will involve deep phenotyping of infants, which includes detailed assessments of their brain and physiological responses. The goal is to better understand how these factors interact and influence infant health and development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant women who consume alcohol or smoke and may also experience anxiety or depression.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or those whose prenatal exposures do not include alcohol or smoking may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for infants affected by prenatal exposures, potentially enhancing their developmental outcomes.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding the effects of prenatal exposures on infant development, but this study employs novel machine learning approaches to deepen that understanding.

Where this research is happening

NEW YORK, UNITED STATES

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.