Puberty and the brain: how hormones shape development using brain scans and machine learning
Official title: Endocrine-mediated pubertal brain network development: Bridging datasets with machine learning
Funded at Florida International University · NIH-11513689 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses young people’s brain scans and hormone data to understand how puberty hormones influence brain development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Florida International University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Miami, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $224,100 |
| NIH project number | 4R00MH135075-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11513689 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are youths aged roughly 12–20 years at various stages of puberty with no contraindications to MRI.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct personal benefits beyond contributing to science.
What this research studies
Researchers will combine advanced brain imaging with machine learning to study how sex hormones during puberty affect brain structure and function. The study will use data from youth at different stages of puberty and measure hormone levels over time to see how phasic and tonic changes relate to brain architecture. By linking diffusion-based brain models with hormone data, the project aims to uncover mechanisms behind puberty-related brain remodeling that could impact mental health. The approach involves analyzing multiple datasets to integrate biological signals with imaging findings in real time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could improve understanding of puberty-related brain changes and inform strategies for supporting adolescent mental health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies show associations between hormone changes and brain measures, but this project aims to reveal deeper mechanisms through advanced imaging and machine learning.
Where this research is happening
-
Florida International University
Miami, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bottenhorn, Katherine Louise — Florida International University
- Study coordinator: Bottenhorn, Katherine Louise
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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.