Understanding Healthy Brain and Child Development

23/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium

['FUNDING_U01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11138589

This project aims to understand how genes and early life experiences shape a child's brain development from before birth through their first ten years.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_U01']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorWASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded)
Locations1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11138589 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

We want to learn how different experiences before and after birth, such as exposure to certain substances or stress, affect a child's growing brain. To do this, we are gathering information from a large group of mothers and their children across the United States. We will use advanced imaging techniques and other tools to create a detailed picture of how children typically develop over their first ten years. This will help us understand what factors lead to healthy development and what might cause challenges.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal participants would be pregnant mothers and their infants who are willing to participate in a long-term study across the United States.

Not a fit: Patients who are not pregnant or do not have young children within the specified age range would not directly benefit from participation in this particular study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand how to support healthy brain development in children and identify those who might need extra help early on.

How similar studies have performed: While individual studies have looked at aspects of child development, this consortium aims to establish a comprehensive, large-scale normative template, making it a novel and extensive approach.

Where this research is happening

SAINT LOUIS, 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.