Tracking pregnancy and early childhood brain development through age 10
1/6 HBCD Prenatal Experiences and Longitudinal Development (PRELUDE) Consortium
['FUNDING_U01'] · ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST · NIH-11140494
This project follows pregnant people and their children to learn how prenatal and early-life exposures affect brain and behavioral development up to age 10.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LITTLE ROCK, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11140494 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If I join, researchers will enroll me during pregnancy and follow my child through the first 10 years of life, with regular visits and data collection. Visits include brain imaging (MRI and EEG), behavioral and developmental tests, health questionnaires, and collection of biospecimens like blood, saliva, or urine. The project enrolls thousands of families at many U.S. sites using the same procedures so data can be combined and compared. Collected data will be curated and shared with scientists to help map typical development and how exposures such as substance use, stress, or toxins change developmental paths.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant people (enrolled early in pregnancy) and their infants who can attend repeated visits and follow-up through the child's first 10 years.
Not a fit: People who are not pregnant, do not have young children, or cannot commit to long-term follow-up and repeated visits are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could help spot early signs of altered brain development and point to better prevention or support strategies for children exposed to prenatal or early-life hazards.
How similar studies have performed: Smaller birth cohorts and large adolescent projects have produced useful findings, but this consortium is novel in its scale and combination of prenatal recruitment, repeated brain imaging, and biospecimens across thousands of families.
Where this research is happening
LITTLE ROCK, UNITED STATES
- ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST — LITTLE ROCK, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: OU, XIAWEI — ARKANSAS CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL RES INST
- Study coordinator: OU, XIAWEI
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.