# Cumulative Effects of Prenatal Stress and Chemical Exposures on Child Development

> **NIH NIH UH3** · UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN · 2021 · $2,612,785

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
We propose to integrate two pregnancy cohorts currently under recruitment at the University of Illinois and the
University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) to form a larger geographically, socio-economically, racially and
ethnically diverse cohort (ECHO.CA.IL) to study the cumulative impact of chemical exposures and maternal
psychosocial stress on birth outcomes and early neurodevelopment. We will focus on two groups of high-
production volume endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) regularly detected in pregnant women, which
research suggests may impact development, but for which data on child health outcomes is sparse: phenols
(bisphenols, benzophenone, dichlorophenols, parabens, triclosan, triclocarban) and perfluorinated alkyl
substances (PFAS). We will measure three indices of chronic stress and resilience: 1) Perceptual - perceptions
of social standing and stress exposures in household, neighborhood, and work environments; 2) Place-based
– neighborhood level socioeconomic status, civic engagement, green space and built environment; and 3)
Biomarkers - telomere length in maternal and umbilical cord leukocytes and corticotropin releasing hormone
(CRH) levels in maternal plasma. We will measure birth outcomes (birth weight and gestational age) and we
will use innovative approaches to assess basic cognitive functions including working memory, attention,
information processing, and social cognition in infancy and early childhood. We will address three specific
aims: (1) Evaluate the relationship between prenatal exposures to EDCs and measures of adverse birth
outcomes and cognitive development of offspring. (2) Evaluate the relationship between measures of
prenatal stress and measures of adverse birth outcomes and cognitive development of offspring.
Importantly, for this aim we will also assess whether biomarkers of stress response mediate the relationship
between perceptual and place-based stress and developmental outcomes. (3) Evaluate whether maternal
stress modifies observed relationships between EDC exposures and measures of adverse birth
outcomes or cognitive development of offspring. During the planning period, we will harmonize data
collection and management (including biospecimens, stress measurements, and measurements of birth
outcomes and cognitive functions) across our two cohorts to prepare for merging our two data sets and for
sharing our data with the ECHO Data Analysis Center. During UG3 stage we will also actively participate in
development and implementation of the ECHO-wide study protocol contributing expertise and methodology for
assessing maternal stress, offspring cognitive development and our experiences integrating and harmonizing
data collection across our two geographically distinct pregnancy cohorts. In summary, our innovative research
approach will contribute to ECHO by providing a framework for integrating cumulative chemical exposures with
chronic psychosocial stress and sources of resilience in ord...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10240465
- **Project number:** 5UH3OD023272-06
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN
- **Principal Investigator:** Susan L Schantz
- **Activity code:** UH3 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $2,612,785
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-09-21 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10240465

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10240465, Cumulative Effects of Prenatal Stress and Chemical Exposures on Child Development (5UH3OD023272-06). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10240465. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*