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Brain and behavior in individuals with intersex conditions

Award Number: R01HD081720
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/14/2015
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2024

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Brain and behavior in individuals with intersex conditions - DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Studies of non-human mammals show that androgens, particularly testosterone (T), during early development play a major role in sexual differentiation of the brain, with long-term consequences for behavior. Research on clinical populations suggests that prenatal T exposure has similar effects in humans, increasing male-typical behavior and reducing female-typical behavior. Almost nothing is known, however, about the impact of early T exposure on the structure of the human brain. In addition, the brain mechanisms underlying T-related behavioral changes are unknown. This project will study brain structure and behavior in individuals with one of two disorders of sex development (DSD, also called intersex conditions) that are characterized by androgen abnormality beginning prenatally: 1. Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), which causes overproduction of adrenal androgens; and 2. Complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS), which involves an inability to respond to androgens, and so an effective lack of androgen exposure. CAH affects both males and females, and 35 men and 35 women with CAH will be compared to 35 male and 35 female controls. Individuals with CAIS are XY females, and 35 females with CAIS will be compared to 35 male and 35 female controls. State-of- the-art imaging technology will be used to map brain structure. Also, aspects of behavior, known to show substantial sex differences, and for which there is evidence of a relationship to prenatal T exposure, will be assessed. Specifically, these are mental rotation ability, targeting ability, and propensities to physical aggression (where men score higher than women), and verbal fluency, fine motor ability and empathy (where women score higher than men). The information obtained will provide convergent evidence regarding the influence of T on human brain and behavior. Convergent evidence is important because ethical considerations preclude experimental manipulations of T during early human development. Instead, naturally occurring conditions that involve T excess or deficiency will be studied. Each condition involves consequences in addition to T abnormality. Therefore, confidence that testosterone caused any brain or behavior differences is strengthened when data from both conditions suggest this conclusion. For instance, prior research indicates that, with respect to physical aggression, men score higher than women, and females with CAH score higher than other females. If XY females with CAIS resemble women rather than men in regard to physical aggression, confidence that T is the responsible agent will be increased. The information obtained will enhance understanding of the neural mechanisms involved in sexual differentiation of human brain and behavior, and so will be relevant to the many psychological disorders that differ by sex. It will also be relevant to clinical management of individuals who have experienced T abnormality before birth, for any of several reasons, including genetic disorders, such as CAH or CAIS, or other disorders of sex development, maternal treatment with hormones during pregnancy, or contact with environmental endocrine disruptors.


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: 2025 ( Subtotal = -$61,938 )
2025	2020	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS, AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE THE OLD SCHOOLS, TRINITY LANE	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	12/3/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$61,938
														Subtotal = -$61,938

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = -$38,586 )
2024	2020	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS, AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE THE OLD SCHOOLS, TRINITY LANE	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	10/1/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	-$38,586
														Subtotal = -$38,586

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2023	2020	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS, AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE THE OLD SCHOOLS, TRINITY LANE	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	7/14/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2022	2020	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	THE OLD SCHOOLS	CAMBRIDGE	CAMBRIDGESHIRE			GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	5	4/19/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $338,658 )
2020	2020	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	THE OLD SCHOOLS	CAMBRIDGE	CAMBRIDGESHIRE	CB2 1TN		GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	5	6/22/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$338,658
2020	2018	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	THE OLD SCHOOLS	CAMBRIDGE	CAMBRIDGESHIRE	CB2 1TN		GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	5/11/2020	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $338,658

Issue Date FY: 2019 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2019	2018	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	THE OLD SCHOOLS	CAMBRIDGE	CAMBRIDGESHIRE	CB2 1TN		GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	8/6/2019	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2018 ( Subtotal = $380,714 )
2018	2018	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	THE OLD SCHOOLS	CAMBRIDGE	CAMBRIDGESHIRE	CB2 1TN		GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	4	5/30/2018	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,714
														Subtotal = $380,714

Issue Date FY: 2017 ( Subtotal = $380,035 )
2017	2017	THE CHANCELLOR, MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	THE OLD SCHOOLS	CAMBRIDGE	CAMBRIDGESHIRE	CB2 1TN		GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	3	8/7/2017	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$380,035
														Subtotal = $380,035

Issue Date FY: 2016 ( Subtotal = $373,678 )
2016	2016	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	The Old Schools,Trinity Lane	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	2	6/3/2016	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$373,678
														Subtotal = $373,678

Issue Date FY: 2015 ( Subtotal = $362,257 )
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	The Old Schools,Trinity Lane	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	001	1	9/2/2015	NEW	$15,033
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	The Old Schools,Trinity Lane	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	000	1	8/14/2015	NEW	$332,114
2015	2015	UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE	The Old Schools,Trinity Lane	CAMBRIDGE				GBR	Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research	002	1	9/14/2015	NEW	$15,110
														Subtotal = $362,257

Grand Total All Awards = $1,734,817

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Brain and behavior in individuals with intersex conditions

Award Number: R01HD081720

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF CHILD HEALTH AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 08/14/2015

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 05/31/2024

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