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Maternal adversity, inflammation, and neurodevelopment: How intergenerational processes perpetuate disadvantage in a low-resource setting

Award Number: R01MH121070
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

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Maternal adversity, inflammation, and neurodevelopment: How intergenerational processes perpetuate disadvantage in a low-resource setting - PROJECT SUMMARY Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) - which includes physical/sexual abuse, neglect or parental mental illness - confer risk for psychiatric dysfunction not only to those directly exposed, but also to the next generation. However, mechanisms underlying these ACE-related intergenerational effects are unclear, significantly limiting a unique prevention opportunity. Our study aims to examine mechanisms by which maternal ACEs influence offspring neurodevelopment, with special focus on prenatal inflammation. Toward this end, we will enroll, in the Brazilian Universal Health Care system (SUS), pregnant women with (n=290) and without (n=290) a history of substantial ACEs and follow their offspring over the first two years of life focused on the neurodevelopment of cognitive control, a cornerstone in the future development of impulsive behaviors. First, we will start by testing associations between maternal ACEs and offspring brain-behavior development using infant MRI and behavioral assessments of cognitive control. Second, we will examine mechanisms underlying these associations, focusing on the role of prenatal inflammation and the placenta using techniques to examine DNA epigenetics and RNA sequencing, while also taking into account genetic influences. As suggested by preclinical research, we hypothesize differential effects of prenatal inflammation in male vs. female pregnancies. In addition, we will explore modifiable post-natal factors and their influence on offspring neurodevelopment, monitoring parental depressive/mood symptoms and conducting two in-home assessments of the family. Revealing mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of adversity, our study will set the stage for high-impact preventive research. We will establish research infrastructure within a São Paulo primary care clinic network in a high-risk, low-resource community where preventive effects can have their most substantial impact. This R01 proposal is designed to be highly responsive to the NIH-FAPESP Funding Initiative (NOT-TW-16-001), which aims to support collaborative international research between investigators in the US and a stellar research group in the State of São Paulo, Brazil.


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: 2024 ( Subtotal = $0 )
2024	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	3/21/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $0

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $571,624 )
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	4	8/7/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	4	2/24/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$40,324
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	4	4/27/2023	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$0
2023	2023	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	4	2/4/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$531,300
														Subtotal = $571,624

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $573,033 )
2022	2022	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	002	3	2/4/2022	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$92,774
2022	2022	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	3	2/3/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$432,233
2022	2022	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	003	3	6/13/2022	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$48,026
2022	2021	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE INC	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	10/27/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$0
														Subtotal = $573,033

Issue Date FY: 2021 ( Subtotal = $547,428 )
2021	2021	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	2	2/17/2021	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$494,976
2021	2021	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	001	2	8/5/2021	SUPPLEMENT FOR EXPANSION	$52,452
														Subtotal = $547,428

Issue Date FY: 2020 ( Subtotal = $587,272 )
2020	2020	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC.	1051 RIVERSIDE DR	NEW YORK	NY	10032	NEW YORK	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	3/16/2020	NEW	$587,272
														Subtotal = $587,272

Grand Total All Awards = $2,279,357

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Maternal adversity, inflammation, and neurodevelopment: How intergenerational processes perpetuate disadvantage in a low-resource setting

Award Number: R01MH121070

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

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