Understanding how parents' genes and environment shape their children's mental health
Causes and consequences of mental disorders: The environmental and genetic influences of parents on offspring.
This project aims to understand how genetic and environmental factors passed down from parents influence mental health and other traits in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boulder, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11112351 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are exploring how children inherit traits from their parents, focusing on mental health and behavior. This involves looking at both genetic information and the home environment children grow up in. Our team is developing new ways to use existing genetic data from large public databases to better understand these complex connections. By refining these methods, we hope to gain clearer insights into how parental influences contribute to a child's development.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: This foundational research does not directly involve patient participation but focuses on understanding genetic and environmental influences on children's traits, particularly those related to mental health.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate clinical treatment or direct intervention for a specific condition would not receive benefit from this foundational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us better understand the origins of mental health conditions in children, potentially leading to improved prevention strategies or earlier interventions.
How similar studies have performed: Traditional methods have provided some insights, but this project introduces a novel approach using polygenic scores to overcome limitations and expand data sources.
Where this research is happening
Boulder, UNITED STATES
- University of Colorado — Boulder, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keller, Matthew Charles — University of Colorado
- Study coordinator: Keller, Matthew Charles
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 below.