Understanding how early life experiences affect child brain development

3/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium

NIH-funded research Children's Hosp of Philadelphia · NIH-10879086

This study is looking at how different environmental challenges affect how children grow and develop during their first 10 years, and it's for families with young kids to help understand what can support healthier development.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionChildren's Hosp of Philadelphia NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-10879086 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of various environmental hazards on child development, focusing on the first 10 years of life. It aims to establish a normative template of developmental trajectories by studying a diverse sample of 7,500 mothers and infants across 24 sites in the United States. The study employs advanced neuroimaging techniques, along with behavioral and physiological assessments, to gather comprehensive data on how factors like maternal health and stress influence brain development. By analyzing this data, the research seeks to identify critical periods and factors that can lead to healthier developmental outcomes for children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for participation include mothers and their infants, particularly those who may have been exposed to various environmental hazards during pregnancy or early life.

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 10 years or those without any exposure to the identified environmental hazards may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and interventions for promoting healthy brain development in children.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in understanding child development through similar approaches, making this study a continuation of established methodologies.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.