Investigating how stress and support in preschool children affect their health.
Official title: Do Hair Cortisol and Hair Oxytocin represent the Stressful and Supportive Experiences of Preschool Children?
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11128513 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how both tough and happy experiences in childhood affect the health of preschool kids by checking stress and bonding hormones in their hair, and it’s for families who want to understand how early life experiences can shape their child's well-being over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $944,914 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD099296-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128513 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are preschool children aged 1-5 years who may have experienced various adverse or positive childhood experiences.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not preschool-aged or those who have not experienced significant adverse or positive childhood experiences may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research examines the impact of adverse and positive childhood experiences on preschool children's health by measuring stress and bonding hormones in their hair. The study will track 450 children over several years, assessing how their experiences influence their hormone levels and overall well-being. By analyzing hair cortisol and oxytocin concentrations, researchers aim to understand the relationship between early life adversity and health outcomes. This approach combines biological measurements with social factors to provide a comprehensive view of childhood development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for supporting children's mental and physical health based on their early experiences.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using hair biomarkers to assess stress and bonding in children, indicating that this approach is both valid and potentially impactful.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anand, Kanwaljeet S — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Anand, Kanwaljeet S
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.