# Maternal hair cortisol concentrations, prenatal psychopathology and offspring behavioral phenotypes

> **NIH NIH R21** · HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH · 2022 · $255,338

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
Background: The hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis is one of the body’s natural stress-response
systems and is critically involved in multiple biological processes. When triggered by stressors, the HPA axis
stimulates the secretion of cortisol throughout the body. In the past, characterization of cortisol was limited by
the use of acute cortisol concentration indicators (saliva, urine, plasma). More recently, measurement of
cortisol in hair has emerged as a cost-effective means of assaying integrated HPA axis activity. This study
seeks to characterize hair cortisol concentration (HCC) and evaluate which factors affect cortisol concentration
in a large and well-characterized cohort from Lima, Peru (N=2,700). Another primary study aim is to evaluate
the effects of HPA axis dysregulation in relation to maternal experiences of trauma and perinatal
psychopathology. We will estimate the extent to which HPA axis dysregulation is associated with offspring
behavioral outcomes. Finally, we aim to evaluate the extent to which HCC acts as a driver of the association
between maternal psychopathology and offspring health outcomes. Implications: The proposed research is
innovative in three major ways. First, we leverage one of the few cohorts with prospectively collected hair
samples among a high-risk population. Second, we use a novel method of assessing long-term cortisol
secretion in hair that opens the door for a new era of biologically sound studies on the role of stress in a myriad
of health outcomes including perinatal health outcomes. Third, we use advanced analysis including mediation
analytic methods to assess the causal effects of HPA axis dysregulation in offspring behavioral health risk.
This application is consistent with the NIMH Strategic Plan Strategy 2.2: “Identify and understand risk factors,
biomarkers, and behavioral indicators of mental illness and of intervention response across the lifespan.” This
project will provide foundational knowledge about cortisol, a central molecule in mental health research and will
inform our understanding of risk factors that affect child neurodevelopment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10526717
- **Project number:** 1R21MH128985-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** HARVARD UNIVERSITY D/B/A HARVARD SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Bizu Gelaye
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $255,338
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2024-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10526717

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10526717, Maternal hair cortisol concentrations, prenatal psychopathology and offspring behavioral phenotypes (1R21MH128985-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-28 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10526717. Licensed CC0.

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