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Prenatal Maternal Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in the Risk Trajectory to Altered Offspring Sleep, Psychopathology, and Neurodevelopment

Award Number: R01MH144234
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2031

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Prenatal Maternal Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in the Risk Trajectory to Altered Offspring Sleep, Psychopathology, and Neurodevelopment - PROJECT ABSTRACT Circadian rhythm and sleep disruptions (CRSD) in early life are associated with immediate and lasting developmental consequences, including altered neurodevelopment, disrupted socioemotional functioning, and heightened risk for psychopathology. Based on animal models there is mounting evidence that CRSD is transmitted from mother to offspring in utero, but the effect of maternal prenatal CRSD on offspring development across the first few years of life is critically underexplored in human samples. Here, we propose a novel, prospective study to examine the developmental consequences of offspring exposure to maternal CRSD in utero. Our central hypothesis is that exposure to maternal CRSD in utero (a modifiable prevention target), directly impacts neurodevelopment and the development of offspring CRSD, leading to downstream effects on offspring socioemotional development and risk for psychopathology. To test this hypothesis, we will recruit a prospective human cohort of 320 pregnant women and assess mothers at each trimester of pregnancy and mother/offspring dyads at 3-, 9-, 12-, and 24-months postpartum. CRSD will be measured in mothers and offspring using actigraphy and surveys at all waves, and in offspring using in-home, overnight polysomnography (PSG) at 12- and 24-months postpartum. Offspring socioemotional development will be measured at 9-, 12-, and 24-months postpartum using observed and parent-reported methods. Offspring neurodevelopment will be assessed using waking electroencephalography (EEG) to examine neural processing of emotional stimuli and PSG to examine sleep-EEG features indicative of neurodevelopment. We will examine a promising novel metric known to be related to sleep and circadian rhythms and predictive of later cognition, “distance from criticality” (referencing optimal computational brain function) at 12- and 24-months postpartum. Offspring emerging psychopathology will be assessed using age-appropriate methods at 24-months postpartum. Aim 1 is to examine relations between prenatal maternal CRSD and offspring sleep and circadian rhythm development across the first 24 months of life. Aim 2 is to examine the effect of prenatal maternal CRSD on the trajectory of offspring socioemotional development and risk for psychopathology, examining offspring CRSD as a mediator of these effects. Aim 3 is to determine the effect of prenatal maternal CRSD on neurodevelopment across the first 24 months of life. The proposed project includes the innovative integration of data on CRSD experienced in utero and in early childhood with well-validated measures of socioemotional development, neurodevelopment, and early markers of psychopathology. Findings could inform novel prevention strategies focused on circadian rhythm and sleep health during pregnancy as a pathway to improve offspring outcomes, enhancing socioemotional development and reducing risk for mental illness.


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 = $787,578 )
2026	2026	WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY, THE	1 BROOKINGS DR	SAINT LOUIS	MO	63130	SAINT LOUIS	USA	Mental Health Research Grants	000	1	9/17/2026	NEW	$787,578
														Subtotal = $787,578

Grand Total All Awards = $787,578

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Prenatal Maternal Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in the Risk Trajectory to Altered Offspring Sleep, Psychopathology, and Neurodevelopment

Award Number: R01MH144234

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF MENTAL HEALTH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 09/15/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2031

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