Understanding how early life experiences affect child brain development
Official title: 10/24 Healthy Brain and Child Development National Consortium
Funded at Osu Center for Health Sciences · NIH-10884479 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how different environmental factors, like a mother's health and stress, can affect the brain development of children from birth to 10 years old, and it's for families with young kids to help improve support and care for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Osu Center for Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tulsa, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $1,343,000 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DA055349-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-10884479 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation include mothers and their infants from diverse backgrounds, particularly those who may have experienced environmental hazards during pregnancy or early life.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 10 years or those without any exposure to the identified environmental hazards may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the impact of various environmental hazards on child development, focusing on children from birth to 10 years old. It aims to establish a comprehensive understanding of neurodevelopmental trajectories by collecting data from a diverse group 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 analyze how factors like maternal health, substance exposure, and stress influence brain development. By creating a detailed dataset, the research seeks to provide insights that can inform interventions and support for affected children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for promoting healthy brain development in children, particularly those at risk due to adverse early life experiences.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown success in understanding child development through similar methodologies, indicating the potential for impactful findings in this area.
Where this research is happening
-
Osu Center for Health Sciences
Tulsa, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Croff, Julie May — Osu Center for Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Croff, Julie May
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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California Abundant Birth Project: does guaranteed income during pregnancy affect birth outcomes and child development?
A government-backed program gives pregnant people in California monthly income to reduce stress, with researchers studying how this helps birth outcomes and early child development.
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Father-inclusive parenting program to boost early child development
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Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
This project studies how genes and early-life environments affect brain development in thousands of babies and young children.
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Healthy Brain and Child Development study across 27 sites
A nationwide study follows mothers and infants from pregnancy through early childhood to map how genes and environments shape brain development and behavior.
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Healthy Brain and Child Development in the US: a large, multi-site study of early life factors
A large nationwide study follows mothers and their babies from birth to age 10 to understand how genes and early life experiences shape brain development.
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Healthy Brain and Child Development: a big study following kids from birth through age 10
A large, nationwide study will follow 7,200 mothers and their babies to map how early life experiences shape brain growth and development.
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.