Understanding how COVID-19 affects brain development and substance use risk in children and adolescents
Official title: Application of a Bayesian strategy to ABCD: Identification of substance use risk and COVID-19 effects on neurodevelopment
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11012911 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how starting to use substances at a young age affects brain development and how the COVID-19 pandemic might change that, so we can better understand what makes some young people more likely to use substances.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2022 |
| Project end | January 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $317,970 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA053301-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11012911 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include children and adolescents aged 0-20 years who are part of the ABCD study cohort.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not part of the ABCD study or who are outside the age range of 0-20 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how early substance use initiation is linked to brain development and how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted this relationship. By analyzing data from the Adolescent Brain and Cognitive Development (ABCD) study, researchers will use advanced Bayesian machine learning techniques to model brain development trajectories and identify factors that increase the risk of substance use. The study aims to provide insights into the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that contribute to substance use vulnerability, particularly in the context of the pandemic's effects on youth. Participants will be monitored over time to understand these complex interactions better.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for preventing substance use disorders in children and adolescents by identifying critical developmental factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research using similar Bayesian modeling approaches has shown promise in understanding developmental trajectories, making this a potentially impactful continuation of that work.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Yip, Sarah — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Yip, Sarah
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding how adversity, genes, and COVID-19 relate to risky reward choices in teens and young adults
This project looks at how hardship, genetics, and COVID-19 experiences may influence teens and young adults to prefer immediate rewards, which can lead to later substance use.
-
Using brain development patterns to spot early substance-use risk and COVID-19 effects in kids
This project uses brain and behavior patterns from children and teens to find who may be more likely to start using substances and how the COVID-19 pandemic changed their brain development.
-
How HIV and COVID medicines and substance use can harm the liver
Researchers are looking at how common HIV and COVID-19 antiviral drugs, especially when combined with alcohol or other substance use, can damage the liver in people with these viral infections.
-
Understanding how background, genes, and COVID-19 affect decision-making and substance use in teenagers
This project looks at how a teenager's background, genes, and experiences with COVID-19 might shape their decision-making and risk for substance use.
-
Investigating liver damage caused by anti-HIV and anti-COVID-19 drugs and substance use.
This study is looking at how certain antiviral medications for HIV and COVID-19 might harm the liver, especially in people who also struggle with substance use, like alcohol, to help find safer treatment options for those affected.
-
Exploring how socioeconomic factors, genetics, and COVID-19 affect substance use in adolescents
This study is looking at how things like financial struggles, genetics, and the effects of COVID-19 might lead teenagers to make risky choices and use substances, so we can find ways to help prevent these issues before they start.
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.