Understanding how prenatal stress shapes birth outcomes and early development
Official title: Advancing understanding of health disparities beginning before birth: A multisite study
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-11384249 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how stress during pregnancy affects a baby’s health from the womb through early infancy, with daily tracking and newborn assessments.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | September 7, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $662,179 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD107016-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11384249 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Pregnant individuals in the 2nd or 3rd trimester who are willing to complete daily stress diaries and participate in pregnancy and newborn assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Pregnant people who do not experience stress-related concerns or who are unable to participate in the required daily diaries and newborn measures may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
The study follows pregnant people in their 2nd and 3rd trimesters and collects daily stress information over 14 days to see how stress exposure relates to both mother and baby's physiology. It also measures maternal heart health signals during the third trimester and evaluates newborn neurodevelopment within 48 hours after birth. By including qualitative interviews, the research centers pregnant women’s lived experiences to understand buffering factors like partner support. The goal is to uncover how prenatal stress contributes to health disparities in birth outcomes and early development, informing future interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to better screening for stress-related risks during pregnancy and new strategies to support healthier birth outcomes and early child development.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work shows associations between prenatal stress and adverse outcomes, but this study adds daily measures and qualitative context to better understand mechanisms.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carter, Sierra E — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Carter, Sierra E
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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.