Prevention Center work to boost healthy eating and activity for young children
Official title: Prevention Research Center on Nutrition and Physical Activity
Funded at Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health · NIH-11423398 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Harvard-based program partners with communities to put proven healthy eating and physical activity ideas into real-life settings for kids aged 0-5 to prevent weight gain and disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | September 29, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,000,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U48DP006785-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11423398 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children aged 0-5 years in early childhood education programs, along with their families and educators.
✕Less likely to help
Some settings or families may not experience immediate changes depending on local implementation and uptake.
What this research studies
This project focuses on turning evidence-based nutrition and activity strategies into practical actions in early childhood education settings in Massachusetts. It builds partnerships, tests how to implement policies and practices, and shares what works so communities can adopt sustainable changes. The work emphasizes health equity and aims to improve child health now and reduce future disease risk by shaping environments, routines, and support for families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, children in early education settings could have healthier eating and more physical activity, reducing risk of obesity and chronic disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior implementation research has shown that community-partnered strategies can improve nutrition and activity, though effectiveness varies by context.
Where this research is happening
-
Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cradock, Angie — Harvard University D/b/a Harvard School of Public Health
- Study coordinator: Cradock, Angie
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.