Investigating how prenatal experiences affect child brain development

5/6 HBCD Prenatal Experiences and Longitudinal Development (PRELUDE) Consortium

NIH-funded research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10884383

This study is looking at how being exposed to substances like opioids before birth, along with other environmental factors, affects how children's brains develop from birth through childhood, and it's for families who want to understand more about their child's growth and development.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniv of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Chapel Hill, United States)
Project IDNIH-10884383 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on understanding how prenatal exposure to substances like opioids, along with environmental factors, influences brain development in children from birth through childhood. By utilizing advanced neuroimaging techniques, the study aims to identify typical brain development trajectories and how they may differ in children exposed to substances in utero. The research involves collaboration among six prominent medical centers, ensuring a comprehensive approach to data collection and analysis. Participants will be monitored over time to assess their cognitive, social, and emotional development.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women who have been exposed to opioids or other substances and their children.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or whose children are not exposed to substances during pregnancy may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for children affected by prenatal substance exposure.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding brain development through neuroimaging, but this specific approach focusing on high-risk populations is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Chapel Hill, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.