Monday, June 30, 2025 6/30/2025

Intergenerational Effects of Stress among Low-Income Pregnant Mothers & their Infants

Award Number: R16GM145482
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2026

Group Awards By:

View Award Description

Intergenerational Effects of Stress among Low-Income Pregnant Mothers & their Infants - PROJECT SUMMARY: As demonstrated by a growing number of studies, stress experienced during pregnancy can lead to significant long-term health problems for mothers and their infants. One biological mechanism that has been identified in heightening a woman’s risk for developing stress-related health complications during pregnancy is the stress hormone cortisol. Further, certain genetic factors, such as the short allele of the (serotonin transporter) 5-HTTLPR gene, have been implicated in increasing one’s cortisol response to stressors in the environment. The impact of these two biomarkers of stress is highly significant in fetal development, as maternal cortisol readily crosses the placenta, potentially causing the fetus to become overly sensitive to environmental stressors after childbirth. Indeed, some studies have shown early life stressors (e.g., socioeconomic adversity, harsh parenting) to accelerate the shortening of telomeres (DNA segments that measure disease risk and biological aging) in children. Yet, few studies have identified pre- and postnatal determinants of infant telomere length among low-income, chronically stressed families. The objective of the proposed study is to prospectively examine whether prenatal maternal and fetal cortisol levels and the 5- HTTLPR genotype of low-income pregnant mothers are predictive of changes in infant telomere length over the first six months postpartum and whether certain maternal and infant characteristics (e.g., exposure to chronic stressors, maternal sensitivity towards their infants) influence these outcomes. A total of 125 low-income mothers will be recruited during pregnancy to provide saliva samples that assess their prenatal cortisol levels and 5-HTTLPR genotype. Mothers will also collect their infant’s hair (within one week after birth) to assess fetal cortisol levels, as well as their infant’s saliva to assess for changes in telomere length from birth to six months postpartum. It is hypothesized that heightened prenatal maternal and fetal cortisol levels and the short allele 5-HTTLPR genotype in mothers will be associated with accelerated shortening of infant telomere length from birth to six months postpartum, and that telomere length will be moderated by certain maternal and infant characteristics (e.g., greater maternal exposure to chronic stressors, less maternal sensitivity towards their infant’s needs). This hypothesis has been formulated from preliminary data collected by the principal investigator and study collaborators. The results of the proposed work have substantial public health implications in advancing our understanding of how prenatal biological mechanisms contribute to the intergenerational transmission of stress outcomes among low-income pregnant mothers and their infants that can have lifelong consequences for the offspring’s health and disease risk. Such findings will also help to identify potential avenues for prevention and treatment, during critical periods of development, to optimize health outcomes for mothers, their children, and subsequent generations.


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 = $147,500 )
2025	2025	CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION	6300 E STATE UNIVERSITY DR STE 332	LONG BEACH	CA	90815	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	4	4/15/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$147,500
														Subtotal = $147,500

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $147,296 )
2024	2024	CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION	6300 E STATE UNIVERSITY DR STE 332	LONG BEACH	CA	90815	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	3	5/14/2024	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$147,296
														Subtotal = $147,296

Issue Date FY: 2023 ( Subtotal = $147,363 )
2023	2023	CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION	6300 E STATE UNIVERSITY DR STE 332	LONG BEACH	CA	90815	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	2	3/7/2023	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$147,363
														Subtotal = $147,363

Issue Date FY: 2022 ( Subtotal = $147,460 )
2022	2022	CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, LONG BEACH RESEARCH FOUNDATION	6300 E STATE UNIVERSITY DR STE 332	LONG BEACH	CA	90815	LOS ANGELES	USA	Biomedical Research and Research Training	000	1	5/31/2022	NEW	$147,460
														Subtotal = $147,460

Grand Total All Awards = $589,619

Top

All Categories

About

Search

Reports

Data Submission

Award Information

Intergenerational Effects of Stress among Low-Income Pregnant Mothers & their Infants

Award Number: R16GM145482

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF GENERAL MEDICAL SCIENCES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

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

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 06/01/2022

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 03/31/2026

Federal Websites

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Operating Divisions

HHS Staff Divisions

Download A Document Viewer