Understanding how stress in Black mothers affects moms and babies across generations
Official title: Intra- and Intergenerational Consequences of Maternal Stress Exposure for Maternal-Infant Health in Black U.S. Families
Funded at State University of New York at Albany · NIH-11374866 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study to learn how stress from family and surroundings affects health for Black mothers and their babies, now and in future generations.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University of New York at Albany NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albany, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $549,083 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD106913-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11374866 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are Black pregnant people or those planning pregnancy, and their children, across diverse neighborhoods.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without access to participating clinics or who do not experience multi-level stress may see limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project follows Black mothers and their children to see how stress from personal, family, and community life influences health during pregnancy and after birth. It will look at biological signals of stress, like cortisol and heart rate changes, as well as social and environmental factors such as neighborhood conditions. The researchers will track outcomes across generations to identify how risks and resilience build over time. If findings point to modifiable factors, later work could lead to better support and interventions for Black families.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could identify key stress-related factors to reduce maternal and infant health disparities and guide targeted interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Past work has linked stress and social determinants to maternal-infant health, with ongoing research building on these findings.
Where this research is happening
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State University of New York at Albany
Albany, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lin, Betty — State University of New York at Albany
- Study coordinator: Lin, Betty
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.