How Stress Shapes the Brain and Health in Everyday Life
Official title: Effects of Stress on Brain and Physiological Pathways to Health Disparities
Funded at Tufts University Medford · NIH-11417909 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This NIH grant funds a study to understand how stress from daily life affects the brain and body and contributes to health problems like depression, anxiety, heart disease, and diabetes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Tufts University Medford NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,023,382 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1MH136641-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11417909 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older who have experienced interpersonal aggression or economic stressors.
✕Less likely to help
People without significant exposure to the specified stressors may have limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
We will study how different stress experiences, such as economic hardship and interpersonal aggression, change brain activity and bodily processes. Researchers will use established tests and brain/physiology measurements to map the pathways from stress memories to health outcomes in adults. The study focuses on diverse groups to see how these mechanisms vary across populations and what could be done to reduce health disparities. The project aims to reveal actionable steps that could prevent stress-related illnesses by addressing the brain and body responses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better prevention and treatment strategies for stress-related health disparities.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown links between stress, brain function, and health risks, supporting further investigation in diverse populations.
Where this research is happening
-
Tufts University Medford
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Shin, Lisa Marie — Tufts University Medford
- Study coordinator: Shin, Lisa Marie
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.