Understanding Healthy Brain and Child Development

14/24 The Healthy Brain & Child Development National Consortium

['FUNDING_U01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · NIH-11138585

This large-scale effort aims to understand how a child's brain develops from before birth through age 10, looking at how genes and early life experiences shape their journey.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorUNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (nih funded)
Locations1 site (LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11138585 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

We want to create a clear picture of how children's brains typically develop during their first 10 years of life. This involves studying 7,500 mothers and their babies across the United States, using advanced brain imaging like MRI and EEG, along with various behavioral and psychological tools. By collecting this information, we hope to learn how different experiences, both positive and challenging, influence a child's growth and well-being. This will help us understand what a healthy developmental path looks like and how to support children facing early life challenges.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants are pregnant mothers and their infants who are willing to participate in a long-term study tracking development through age 10.

Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate medical treatment or intervention for a specific condition would not directly benefit from participating in this observational study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could provide a foundational understanding of child brain development, helping to identify early signs of developmental challenges and inform strategies to support children's health.

How similar studies have performed: While individual studies have explored aspects of child development, this consortium aims to establish an unprecedentedly large and diverse dataset for a comprehensive understanding of neurodevelopmental trajectories.

Where this research is happening

LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES

Researchers

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 below.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.