How prenatal exposure to certain chemicals affects child brain development.
Official title: Prenatal Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Child Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Mediation by Cytokines and DNA Methylation
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-10976336 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being exposed to certain chemicals during pregnancy might affect a child's chances of developing autism or ADHD, and it’s for parents who want to understand more about how the environment can impact their child's brain development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $89,488 |
| NIH project number | 1F32OD037666-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10976336 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are pregnant individuals who may have been exposed to endocrine disrupting chemicals.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or whose children are older than 11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of prenatal exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the development of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in children. It aims to understand the biological mechanisms, specifically focusing on inflammation and DNA methylation changes, that may mediate these effects. By analyzing data from the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program, the study seeks to fill gaps in knowledge regarding how these environmental factors influence neurodevelopmental outcomes. The findings could provide insights into prevention strategies for these disorders.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for neurodevelopmental disorders in children.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown associations between prenatal chemical exposure and neurodevelopmental disorders, but this study aims to explore these connections in a comprehensive manner.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Oh, Jiwon — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Oh, Jiwon
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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-
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Synaptic nanostructure in neurodevelopmental disorders
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Maternal acetaminophen use in pregnancy and ADHD risk in children
A large study will follow thousands of mother-child pairs to see if taking acetaminophen during pregnancy relates to ADHD in kids.
-
GDF11’s role in brain development and autism-related disorders
A new NIH grant tests whether adjusting a growth factor called GDF11 can improve brain function and behaviors in models related to autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders.
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.