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The Biological Salience of Dimensions of Early Life Stress in Predicting Psychopathology

Award Number: F31MH144820
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/04/2028

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The Biological Salience of Dimensions of Early Life Stress in Predicting Psychopathology - PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT Early life stress (ELS)—defined as experiences that threaten the fulfillment of an individual's basic needs leading to prolonged stress—is a well-established risk factor for the development of internalizing and externalizing psychopathology symptoms. Yet, the mechanisms through which ELS contributes to later mental health outcomes remain unclear. Guided by a biopsychosocial framework and informed by developmental psychopathology and behavioral genetics, the proposed project aims to clarify how ELS becomes biologically embedded to influence adolescent psychopathology. Research suggests that stress-responsive biological systems—such as the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, immune system, and epigenetic regulation— may serve as mechanistic pathways linking ELS to mental health outcomes, but these systems are rarely studied together, and genetic confounding is often unaddressed. This study leverages the Arizona Twin Project, an ongoing, longitudinal twin study representative of the southwestern United States, to address these gaps. The specific aims are to: (1) identify distinct dimensions of ELS and test whether they differentially predict internalizing and externalizing symptoms; (2) examine whether biological mechanisms—specifically hair cortisol concentration, inflammatory markers, and DNA methylation— mediate associations between ELS dimensions and adolescent psychopathology; and (3) use biometric twin modeling to estimate genetic and environmental contributions to these biological mechanisms and their associations with psychopathology. By modeling multiple forms of ELS and multiple biological systems in a genetically informed design, this project will enhance specificity in identifying modifiable mechanistic targets for prevention. The proposed training plan will support the applicant's development into an independent clinical scientist with expertise in developmental psychopathology, behavioral genetics, and biobehavioral mechanisms of stress. Under the guidance of an expert, interdisciplinary mentoring team, training goals include: (1) formal instruction and experiential training in biological data analysis (e.g., HPA axis, inflammation, epigenetics); (2) advanced training in quantitative methods, including longitudinal modeling and twin methods; (3) ongoing professional development in research ethics, dissemination and translation of findings, and career advancement. The fellowship will take place within the collaborative and interdisciplinary training environment at Arizona State University, under the mentorship of experts in developmental psychology, health psychology, neuroscience, and behavioral genetics. This NRSA fellowship will prepare the applicant for a research career focused on identifying modifiable biological mechanisms to inform personalized prevention and improve public health outcomes for youth exposed to ELS.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $50,114 )
2026	2026	ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY	1475 N SCOTTSDALE RD STE 200	SCOTTSDALE	AZ	85257	MARICOPA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	1	6/10/2026	NEW	$0
2026	2026	ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY	1475 N SCOTTSDALE RD STE 200	SCOTTSDALE	AZ	85257	MARICOPA	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	6/10/2026	NEW	$50,114
														Subtotal = $50,114

Grand Total All Awards = $50,114

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The Biological Salience of Dimensions of Early Life Stress in Predicting Psychopathology

Award Number: F31MH144820

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: FELLOWSHIP/SCHOLARSHIP/STUDENT LOANS

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/05/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 08/04/2028

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