Understanding how early life experiences shape children's health and brain development

ASSESSING THE EVOLVING IMPACT OF EARLY LIFE EXPOSURES ON CHILD PHYSICAL HEALTH AND NEURODEVELOPMENT

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · NIH-11319102

This project helps us understand how a child's early experiences and environment, including recent events like the COVID-19 pandemic, shape their physical health and brain development as they grow.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorRHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL (nih funded)
Locations1 site (PROVIDENCE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11319102 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

Every parent wonders how their child grows up healthy, but many things can affect a child's physical health and brain development from conception through adolescence. This project looks at how factors like sleep, chemical exposures, family life, and neighborhood safety can either help or hinder a child's growth. We are especially interested in how widespread events, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, have influenced these factors and children's health outcomes. By using a large existing dataset called the ECHO Cohort, we aim to uncover the complex connections between a child's environment and their overall well-being.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research focuses on understanding child development from conception through adolescence, making it relevant to families with children in these age ranges.

Not a fit: Patients not in the age range of 0-20 years old, or those not interested in population-level health insights, may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us identify key factors that promote healthy child development and inform strategies to support children's physical and brain health.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds upon the existing large-scale ECHO Cohort, leveraging its extensive data to explore new questions about child development and environmental influences.

Where this research is happening

PROVIDENCE, 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.