UVM children's brain and health tracking project
19/21 ABCD-USA CONSORTIUM: RESEARCH PROJECT SITE AT UVM
This project follows children and teens over time to learn how their brains, behavior, and health change from late childhood into young adulthood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Vermont & St Agric College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Burlington, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11302708 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
I would come in for detailed visits that include brain scans, thinking and behavior tests, blood or saliva samples, and questions about health, school, and home life. Most participants had an in-person baseline visit around ages 9–10 and repeat comprehensive visits every two years, with shorter annual check-ins and mid‑year phone or app surveys. The program combines neuroimaging, lab tests, mental health and substance use questionnaires, and environmental measures to track development across adolescence. The study has enrolled a large, diverse group and uses active efforts to keep families involved as their children grow up.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children and teens (and their parents or guardians) who can come to the UVM site for brain scans, tests, and periodic follow-up visits and who are willing to complete surveys and provide biospecimens.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate medical treatment or those unable to attend in-person visits, undergo MRI, or provide consent/assent are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help spot early warning signs and protective factors for mental and physical health in youth, guiding better prevention and care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous longitudinal child and adolescent cohorts have helped shape understanding of brain and behavioral development, and ABCD is larger and more comprehensive than most prior efforts.
Where this research is happening
Burlington, United States
- University of Vermont & St Agric College — Burlington, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Garavan, Hugh P. — University of Vermont & St Agric College
- Study coordinator: Garavan, Hugh P.
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.