Tracking brain changes during reading help in kids with and without reading trouble
Official title: Tracking neurocognitive changes during evidence-based reading instruction in typically and atypically developing children
Funded at University of Connecticut Storrs · NIH-11397475 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Kids with typical development and those with reading disabilities may show brain changes as they receive reading help, and this study watches those changes over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R37 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Connecticut Storrs NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Storrs-Mansfield, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $598,019 |
| NIH project number | 5R37HD090153-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11397475 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 0-11 with or without reading difficulties who are undergoing reading remediation.
✕Less likely to help
Children not receiving reading intervention or outside the age range may not benefit from this study.
What this research studies
This project follows children aged 0-11 who are receiving evidence-based reading instruction to see how their brain activity and chemistry change during treatment. Researchers use multiple brain-imaging methods to map which brain regions respond as reading skills improve and why some children respond differently. The study builds on prior work that linked brain changes to successful remediation and aims to identify factors that predict who benefits most from intervention. By tracking brain and behavior during ongoing treatment, the team hopes to refine teaching approaches for better, faster gains for all learners.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to more personalized reading interventions that align teaching with how each child’s brain changes during learning.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown measurable brain changes associated with reading remediation, supporting the potential of this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Connecticut Storrs
Storrs-Mansfield, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pugh, Kenneth R. — University of Connecticut Storrs
- Study coordinator: Pugh, Kenneth R.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
New sequencing machine to boost veterinary genomics at CVMDL
A new high-throughput DNA/RNA sequencer will be acquired and put into use at the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory to improve how we study and diagnose animal diseases.
-
How IL-10 changes mast cells in allergic reactions
This work looks at how the immune signal IL-10 changes mast cells and their responses in people with food allergies.
-
Optimizing a just-in-time intervention to help MSM access chemsex harm-reduction services
A smartphone app-driven approach tests personalized, timely support to help men who have sex with men access chemsex harm-reduction services and reduce HIV risk.
-
Understanding how vagus nerve stimulation helps stroke recovery to guide better treatments
This NIH grant uses computer models to figure out how brief, task-timed vagus nerve stimulation affects the brain after stroke and helps movement recovery.
-
Targeting c-Myc DNA with next-generation nucleic acid tools in aggressive B-cell lymphomas
This grant tests a new way to slow or stop aggressive B-cell lymphomas by directly targeting the c-Myc gene in patients and model systems using advanced nucleic acid analogs.
-
Soft, bendable 3D electronics and microfluidic micro-labs for drug screening in engineered tissues
A team at the University of Connecticut is building a soft, 3D electronic and microfluidic platform to grow human organoids and test drugs safely and accurately.
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.