As parents, health care providers, and researchers, we share a common goal: helping our children grow to be healthy and happy. We invite you to connect with the nation’s leading researchers and participate in a study that can help uncover the experiences of early childhood development that affect an individual’s future.
Who can participate?
Participating families will be individuals who join mostly in the second trimester of pregnancy and continue in the study with their newborn infants. Some individuals may be invited to join the study later in their pregnancy or shortly after delivery.
Study locations are across the United States. It is important that people who join the study are different races and ethnicities, with diverse education, income levels, and living environments.
Study locations will have study navigation services available to guide families through the study, answer questions, and provide additional support to families as needed.
What will study participants be expected to do?
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/or heart rate trackers for brief periods of time
- Undergo safe, non-invasive methods that provide pictures of your child’s brain and measure the brain activity of your child
After the first year, some of these assessments will be repeated each year.
What about costs?
All study assessments and procedures will be provided to you free of charge. You will be compensated for the time spent participating in the study.
Will personal information be collected?
- All identifying information from or about you will be kept private and confidential, as required by law.
- Your family’s information and samples will be stored without personally identifiable information.
- Researchers will learn from your contributions, along with those of others in the study, for many years to come.