NIH-funded research NIH-funded research

Retaining the CANDLE cohort to find early-life risk factors for obesity and mental health in kids

Official title: Retaining the CANDLE cohort to advance ECHO Cohort solution-oriented research and identify early-life modifiable risk factors for obesity and mental health problems in children

Funded at University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr · NIH-11362597 · Data updated 2026-11-12

A large NIH grant uses data from the CANDLE and ECHO cohorts to find early-life factors linked to obesity and mental health problems in children and teens.

More Obesity research and trials

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Memphis, United States)
Project startSeptember 1, 2023
Project endMay 31, 2030
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$1,200,996
NIH project number5UH3OD035519-04
Project IDNIH-11362597 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Children and adolescents, including those with obesity or mood-related concerns, and their families, who are part of the ECHO/CANDLE cohort networks or similar populations.

Less likely to help

Individuals not connected to the study cohorts or not matching the age ranges or exposure profiles may not directly benefit.

What this research studies

This project analyzes long-term health data from children and their families to identify early exposures that raise or lower the risk of obesity and mood-related issues. Researchers will examine developmental factors, maternal stress, and family/community influences to understand how these risks unfold over time. Using a developmentally informed approach, they will create a new neurodevelopmental outcome measure to better connect early life experiences with later mental health and weight outcomes. The work aims to pinpoint targets for prevention that could improve child and adolescent health and reduce future disease burden.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, it could guide more effective early prevention strategies to reduce obesity and mental health problems in youth.

How similar studies have gone: Previous studies using large pediatric cohorts have identified associations between early exposures and later obesity or mental health, but this project aims to sharpen causal links and prioritize prevention targets.

Where this research is happening

  • University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
    Memphis, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Zhao, Qi — University of Tennessee Health Sci Ctr
  • Study coordinator: Zhao, Qi

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.