Prenatal and Early Childhood Brain Development study across 27 sites
Official title: 6/6 HBCD Prenatal Experiences and Longitudinal Development (PRELUDE) Consortium Vanderbilt
Funded at Vanderbilt University · NIH-11518980 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant supports a large study of how prenatal and early-life experiences shape brain development and behavior in children from birth to age 10.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,390,272 |
| NIH project number | 4U01DA055347-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11518980 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are pregnant individuals and children from birth to age 10 from diverse backgrounds across participating sites.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals not enrolled in the study or outside the age range may not directly benefit from this project.
What this research studies
Researchers will follow 7,200 mothers and infants across 27 sites to collect MRI and EEG brain data along with behavioral and physiological measures. The study aims to map normal developmental trajectories and understand how factors like maternal health, substance exposure, stress, and maltreatment influence outcomes. This work builds a harmonized protocol so data can be shared with scientists and used to identify drivers of healthy versus delayed development in real-world populations.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could guide early interventions to support healthier brain development and reduce risks associated with adverse early experiences.
How similar studies have gone: Prior neurodevelopment studies have shown that standardized, multi-site imaging and behavioral data can illuminate developmental trajectories, though this project is notably large and harmonized.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cutting, Laurie E — Vanderbilt University
- Study coordinator: Cutting, Laurie E
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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.