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UCSD – Healthy Brain and Child Development

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    • About the HBCD Study
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Become a Participant

  • About
    • About the HBCD Study
    • HBCD Consortium Administrative Core
    • HBCD Data Coordinating Center
    • HBCD Site Principal Investigators
    • External Scientific Board
    • Observational Study Monitoring Board
    • Federal Partners
  • Families
    • For Families
    • Family Participation
    • Resources
    • Study FAQs
  • Scientists
    • For Scientists
    • Study Protocols
    • Data Sharing
    • Workgroups and Committees
    • Publications
  • Recruitment Sites
        • Overview
        • Arkansas Children’s Research Institute
        • Boston Children’s Hospital
        • Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
        • Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
        • Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
        • Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
        • Emory University
        • Johns Hopkins University
          and Kennedy Krieger Institute
        • Northwestern University
        • NYU Langone Health
        • Oklahoma State University
          Center for Health Sciences
        • Oregon Health & Science University
        • Penn State College of Medicine
        • Penn State University
        • The University of Alabama
        • University of Alabama at Birmingham
        • University of California, San Diego Health
        • University of Maryland, College Park
        • University of Minnesota
        • University of New Mexico Health and Health Sciences
        • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
        • University of Vermont
        • University of Wisconsin-Madison
        • Vanderbilt University
        • Virginia Tech
        • Washington University in St. Louis
  • News
    • News
    • Newsletter
    • Videos

For Families

Striving to make a difference for generations to come

ABOUT THE STUDY

The HBCD Study will enroll approximately 7,500 participating families from across the United States and follow them and their children through early childhood. We want to understand how the brain develops and is affected by exposure to substances and other environmental conditions during pregnancy and after the baby is born.

Together, we can find answers to questions that you and many other parents and caregivers might ask, such as:

  • How do genes and experiences influence development and behavior?​
  • How does early contact to opioids, tobacco, and other substances affect development?
  • Are there key experiences early in development that affect later health and well-being of a child?
  • Are there windows during early development that present opportunities to step in that will help children be healthier and happier?
  • How do children's interactions with their parent or caretaker affect their health?

STUDY SIGNIFICANCE

The first few years of life are a period of quick growth and brain development. There are many factors that can affect how children develop, yet little is known about how these factors impact health and other outcomes. The HBCD Study will help us understand how child development may be affected by exposures to social and environmental experiences and conditions, including exposure to substances (such as opioids, alcohol, tobacco, and cannabis) during pregnancy.

Recent advances in technology and developments in research allow us to explore in more detail how these exposures interact with brain development and other social and health outcomes. Results from the HBCD Study will provide information that parents, caregivers, and health professionals can use to enhance the well-being of children.

STUDY PROCEDURES

During these visits, you will be asked to complete interviews and questionnaires.
In addition, you and/or your child will be asked to:

  • Provide samples, such as blood (birth parent), urine and saliva (birth parent and child)​
  • Participate in behavioral assessments
  • Wear activity and heart rate trackers for brief periods of time
  • Undergo safe, non-invasive methods that provide pictures of your child’s brain and measure their brain activity
  • Allow us to collect growth measurements
  • Provide information about your child’s social, emotional, and cognitive development

*After the first year, some of these assessments will be repeated each year

What is the HBCD Experience?

MRI in the HBCD Study

EEG in the HBCD Study

Interactive Assessments in the HBCD Study

Wearable Sensors in the HBCD Study

HBCD Timeline

About

About the HBCD Study
HBCD Consortium Administrative Core
HBCD Data Coordinating Center
HBCD Site Principal Investigators
External Scientific Board
Observational Study Monitoring Board
Federal Partners

Families

For Families
Family Participation
Resources
Study FAQs

Scientists

For Scientists
Study Protocols
Data Sharing
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Committees

Publications

Recruitment Sites

Overview

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