Understanding how early life experiences affect child brain development

13/24 The Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium

NIH-funded research Pennsylvania State University, the · NIH-10881988

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

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionPennsylvania State University, the NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (University Park, United States)
Project IDNIH-10881988 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the impact of various environmental hazards on child development, particularly 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 exposure to toxicants influence neurodevelopment. By analyzing this data, the research seeks to identify critical periods and factors that can lead to better developmental outcomes for children.

Who could benefit from this research

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

Not a fit: Patients who are older than 11 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 enhancing child development and mitigating adverse effects from early life experiences.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown success in understanding child development through similar approaches, indicating the potential for impactful findings in this area.

Where this research is happening

University Park, 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 2026-06-13 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.