Lab analyzing how early life stress affects the body and heart
Multi-Omics Core C
Using advanced tests on blood and gut samples, this project looks for biological signs that connect childhood stress to adult heart disease risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11262246 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, you may be asked to give blood, stool, or other samples so scientists can study biological changes linked to childhood stress. The lab will measure gene activity, DNA methylation, chromatin accessibility, metabolites, and the gut microbiome to look for consistent patterns. These measurements help researchers understand how early life stress might reprogram the body and increase later heart disease risk. The core lab ensures all samples are processed the same way so results are reliable and can point to possible targets to boost resilience.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a history of significant early life stress who can provide blood and stool samples and attend visits at the study site are the best fit.
Not a fit: People without a history of early life stress, those unwilling to provide biological samples, or those with advanced irreversible heart disease may not gain direct benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could reveal biological markers or pathways that lead to new ways to prevent or reduce heart disease risk in people with early life stress.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have found links between stress, epigenetic changes, and the gut microbiome, but turning these findings into proven clinical treatments is still early and experimental.
Where this research is happening
Birmingham, United States
- University of Alabama at Birmingham — Birmingham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hyndman, Kelly — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Hyndman, Kelly
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 below.