Investigating how prenatal stress affects children's behavior and addiction risks.
Official title: Epigenetic susceptibility of behavioral and addictive disorders during pre/pubescence after natural disaster exposures in-utero
Funded at Queens College · NIH-10917332 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how stress experienced by mothers during pregnancy might affect their children's behavior and risk for addiction later in life, and it’s for families who want to understand how prenatal experiences can shape their child's emotional health.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Queens College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Flushing, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $975,753 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057310-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10917332 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-20 years who were exposed to maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were not exposed to maternal stress during pregnancy may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy on the development of behavioral and addictive disorders in children. By analyzing biological markers and child behavior from a diverse population, the study aims to identify how in utero stress influences emotional regulation and risk for future psychiatric issues. The research utilizes advanced techniques like ATAC sequencing to examine epigenetic changes in children exposed to stress before birth. Participants will be followed over several years to assess long-term outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to early identification and intervention strategies for children at risk of developing behavioral and addiction disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results in understanding the link between prenatal stress and child development, suggesting that this research builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Queens College
Flushing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Nomura, Yoko — Queens College
- Study coordinator: Nomura, Yoko
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
TopoROP: Multi-View Analysis to Diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity
A new AI-based tool analyzes retinal images to help doctors diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity in premature babies and other patients at risk.
-
Brain blood vessel changes linked to chronic nerve pain
This project looks at how changes in tiny blood vessels in the brain after nerve injury might make pain and related mood or thinking problems worse.
-
PARP-1 Degradation for Alzheimer's-related Diseases
A new approach to lower PARP-1 protein in diseased human cells to help with Alzheimer’s-related dementia and other conditions.
-
Epigenetic signals and behavioral risk after in-utero stress in children and teens
This grant investigates how a mother’s stress during pregnancy may leave epigenetic marks that influence fear, emotion regulation, and addiction risk in children as they grow up.
-
Tubulin “toggle switch” in human breast cancer
A study exploring how specific tubulin protein changes control breast cancer cell behavior, with potential implications for new treatments.
-
Understanding how early stress and brain wiring relate to anxiety and aggression in teens
This project follows kids born around Superstorm Sandy to see how early and ongoing stress affects anxiety and disruptive behavior as they grow.
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.