How prenatal chemical exposures and maternal nutrition affect children's development
Maternal exposure to chemicals and offspring neurodevelopmental disabilities: informing public health actions by understanding nutritional modifiers and simulating interventions
This project looks at whether a mother's exposure to metals and PFAS during pregnancy, together with her nutrition, changes the risk of ADHD, autism, and related developmental problems in her children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171727 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will link existing pregnancy biospecimens and medical records to children's clinical diagnoses to see how prenatal metals and PFAS relate to ADHD, autism, and co-occurring conditions. They will examine whether maternal nutrition changes those relationships and whether combinations of chemicals matter. The team will use statistical simulations to estimate how reducing exposures or improving nutrition might lower risks and to produce policy-relevant effect estimates. The work emphasizes U.S. populations and builds on rich cohort data rather than enrolling a new clinical trial.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who were pregnant (or parents of children up to about 11 years old) with available pregnancy blood or other biospecimens and clinical records for neurodevelopmental diagnoses would be most relevant to this project.
Not a fit: Those without pregnancy exposure data, not part of the studied cohorts, or with conditions unrelated to neurodevelopment may not receive direct benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could point to nutritional strategies or exposure reductions that lower the chance a child develops ADHD, autism, or related neurodevelopmental disabilities.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked prenatal metals and PFAS to developmental problems, but most were conducted in European cohorts or focused on single outcomes, so combining nutrition and policy-focused simulations is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Choi, Giehae — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Choi, Giehae
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.