Planning to study geophagy in pregnant mothers and its effects on child development
Official title: Planning Grant: Developing the Research Capacity to Investigate the Practice of Geophagy Among Pregnant Mothers and Impacts on Children's Neurodevelopment
Funded at Oregon State University · NIH-11554855 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project plans to collaborate with partners in Zambia to explore if eating earth during pregnancy affects a child’s brain development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Oregon State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Corvallis, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $15,510 |
| NIH project number | 3R21TW013293-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11554855 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant people in sub-Saharan Africa (Ndola, Zambia) who report geophagy during pregnancy and have HIV-negative status.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant individuals who do not engage in geophagy or who are HIV-positive may see limited direct benefit from this planning grant.
What this research studies
A planning grant will build capacity to study geophagy and its possible effects on neurodevelopment in children. The team will train researchers at partner sites and test children’s development using Bayley-4 assessments. The study will screen 200 HIV-negative pregnant women to understand geophagy practices, metal exposure, and potential developmental outcomes in their children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve understanding of maternal soil-eating and help protect child neurodevelopment through targeted guidance and interventions.
How similar studies have gone: There is prior evidence linking maternal geophagy and heavy metal exposure to developmental outcomes, but direct translational pathways remain understudied in this region.
Where this research is happening
-
Oregon State University
Corvallis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Rothenberg, Sarah E — Oregon State University
- Study coordinator: Rothenberg, Sarah E
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.