# Prenatal Exposures and Child Health Outcomes:  A Statewide Study

> **NIH NIH UH3** · MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $305,679

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Evidence from epidemiologic studies demonstrates the negative effects of both chronic and acute stress during
gestation. These effects may occur perinatally or later in the child's life. The COVID-19 global pandemic has led
to unprecedented mass disruption of social and financial security as well as changes in medical care delivery.
These conditions are causing elevated levels of distress even for portions of the population that may have
previously been protected from psychosocial stress. Of particular concern for pregnant women and their children,
there may be direct biological effects related to infection with SARS-CoV-2 as well as substantial indirect
psychosocial effects during critical periods of development with long-lasting impact on children relevant to the
Environmental Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) program. This proposal addresses how psychosocial stress
related to the COVID pandemic may impact perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes. Furthermore, evidence
suggests that psychosocial stress is associated with both the gastrointestinal and vaginal microbiomes.
Therefore, we will determine if maternal microbiomes or infant microbiomes mediate the impact of psychosocial
stress on perinatal and neurodevelopmental outcomes. In aim 1, we address the maternal microbes and their
role in mediating perinatal outcomes caused by maternal psychosocial stress during pregnancy. In aim 2, we
focus on maternal psychosocial stress and its impact on neurodevelopment as mediated by the changes to the
infant microbiota. We will examine these objectives in the context of our ongoing work, and as an extension of
the parent grant (UG3/UH3OD023285, Paneth), where our organizing principle is that for many environmental
exposures the most sensitive period of risk for child health is pregnancy and the perinatal period. The parent
grant explores three primary exposures: toxic, nutritional, and inflammatory in a stratified random sample of state
births recruited in the first trimester of pregnancy. Of the planned 1,100 new enrollments of cohort dyads into
ECHO, more than 700 pregnant women have been consented, and, with a 75% follow up rate, more than 400
children have already been seen in infancy. Over 300 women are expected to be enrolled during the project
period. While this research will leverage the local ECHO cohort, the project is designed to engage ECHO team
science through two distinct but complementary ECHO-wide projects: (1) incorporation of data from two cohorts
(O'Conner & Deoni) to address the aims proposed above and (2) provision of data and biospecimens to separate
COVID supplement (Transande) which addresses SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity/COVID illness as well as
psychosocial stress (assessed via questionnaire and cortisol measured in hair) as they relate to shortened
gestation and other perinatal outcomes. Our efforts will not only inform the specific hypotheses being tested but
will also inform “touch-free” methods for sample collection...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10205220
- **Project number:** 3UH3OD023285-05S2
- **Recipient organization:** MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Charles James Barone
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $305,679
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2016-09-21 → 2021-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10205220

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10205220, Prenatal Exposures and Child Health Outcomes:  A Statewide Study (3UH3OD023285-05S2). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-25 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10205220. Licensed CC0.

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