Understanding How Surroundings Shape Child Health from Pregnancy Onward

Penn-CHOP ECHO

NIH-funded research University of Pennsylvania · NIH-11319103

This work explores how a child's environment, both big and small, influences their health from before birth through early childhood.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pennsylvania NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Philadelphia, United States)
Project IDNIH-11319103 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We are looking at how the larger environment, like green spaces and neighborhood conditions, along with personal factors such as diet and physical activity, come together to affect health. This includes examining how these surroundings might impact a baby's growth before birth, the timing of birth, and a child's risk for conditions like obesity, asthma, and developmental delays up to age three. Our goal is to understand these complex connections to help reduce health risks for children.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This work is relevant for pregnant individuals and families with young children, particularly those interested in how environmental factors affect health outcomes.

Not a fit: Patients outside of the pregnancy and early childhood age range, or those not experiencing the conditions being studied, may not directly benefit from this specific research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to create healthier environments and lifestyles to prevent common health issues in children.

How similar studies have performed: While individual environmental factors have been studied, this work takes a novel approach by looking at the combined impact of neighborhood and personal factors on complex health disorders in early life.

Where this research is happening

Philadelphia, 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.
Last reviewed 2026-06-14 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.