Maternal Depression and How Baby’s Brain Develops Under Different Treatments
Official title: Maternal Depression and Antidepressant Effects on Fetal Brain Structure and Function (FABMOMS)
Funded at Children's Research Institute · NIH-11319580 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how a mother’s depression and the medicines she uses during pregnancy might affect a baby’s brain development and behavior.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | June 18, 2026 |
| Project end | February 28, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $794,699 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD118728-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11319580 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people with major depressive disorder and their infants, including exposure to common antidepressants.
✕Less likely to help
People without depression or without exposure to maternal medications during pregnancy may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
If you are pregnant or recently postpartum and dealing with depression, this study aims to understand how maternal mood and treatment shape a child’s brain connectivity and behavior. Researchers will use advanced fetal and neonatal MRI to measure brain structure and function, while also tracking maternal stress and heart rate variability. The study builds on prior methods to separate the effects of depression itself from the meds, with a large, careful design in pregnant people and their babies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help doctors tailor safer treatments for pregnant people with depression and improve neurodevelopmental outcomes for their children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows that maternal mood and medication exposure can influence fetal and child brain development, but more precise, MRI-based insights are needed.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Research Institute
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Limperopoulos, Catherine — Children's Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Limperopoulos, Catherine
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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.