The Healthy Brain and Child Development Project
7/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
This project looks at how early life experiences and genes influence brain development in children from birth through age 10.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11139499 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We want to learn how a child's genes and early life experiences work together to shape their brain development. This project will follow 7,200 mothers and their babies from birth through age 10 across the United States. We will use advanced brain imaging, behavioral tests, and biological samples to create a clear picture of typical brain growth. This will help us understand how factors like substance exposure, stress, or health conditions might affect a child's development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Mothers and their infants, from birth through age 10, who are willing to participate in a long-term study across various locations in the US, would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients seeking direct medical treatment or immediate health interventions would not receive direct benefit from participating in this observational project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Understanding typical brain development and how early experiences affect it could help us better support children's health and well-being.
How similar studies have performed: While smaller studies have looked at aspects of child development, this project is a large-scale, harmonized effort to create a comprehensive understanding across a diverse US population.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Volk, Heather E — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Volk, Heather 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 below.