# Reversibility Network: Interventions to Reverse or Remediate Effects of Early Life Adversity on Ageing Processes

> **NIH NIH R24** · BROWN UNIVERSITY · 2020 · $420,804

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
This application, proposes an overarching theme to foster research into early life adversity (ELA) that will
fundamentally develop and prepare the field for greater scientific discoveries, with a particular focus on
interventions for population and patient benefits. Furthermore, we aim to raise awareness in the field about the
importance of ELA, including ELA measurement, mechanisms, and interventions. Specific aims will be in
three themes: (1) ELA Measures: Develop an ELA measurement toolkit that will include the best theoretically-
embedded, prospectively- and retrospectively-assessed ELA measures, and will evolve as new discoveries on
ELA measurement are made. (2) ELA Mechanisms: Catalyze research on key mechanisms through which
ELA influences health and aging outcomes (e.g. biological, behavioral and self-report mechanisms). Target
mechanisms will be evaluated as to whether they are both malleable to interventions and influence aging
outcomes. (3) ELA Interventions: Foster research on: (a) Adult effects of early life interventions for those
exposed to ELA; (b) Adult interventions for those who recall ELA and/or were objectively exposed to ELA.
The approach to achieve these aims will be to extend an interdisciplinary, international Research Network on
Interventions to Reverse Effects of Early Life Adversity (the “Reversibility Network”) that was developed over
the past five years. During the coming five years, the Reversibility Network will focus on ELA research
capacity and community building, as well as on ELA knowledge dissemination, which will cut across the
three themes outline above. This will be done through the following specific approaches: (1) Focused annual
Reversibility Network investigator meetings, with an emphasis on building research capacity and
community through bringing together senior and junior investigators, and new promising investigators. (2)
Conference symposia and pre-conference workshops on three themes above, with major emphases of
building the ELA research community (including bringing new researchers into the field), ELA knowledge
dissemination, and utilizing existing expertise to enhance network productivity. (3) Fund pilot research, with
an emphasis on ELA measurement, mechanisms, and interventions. (4) Develop an ELA measurement
toolkit that will address the lack of precise ELA measurement across the lifespan, as well as enhance
understanding of ELA mechanisms, and the moderation of interventions by ELA exposure. (5) Develop a
website that will offer the ELA measurement toolkit, examples of effective ELA interventions, ELA intervention
development frameworks, and opportunities for research and implementation. (6) Three peer-reviewed
manuscripts outlining knowledge to date, theoretical frameworks, gaps in knowledge, and recommendations
for the field within the three themes of ELA measures, mechanisms and interventions. In accomplishing these
aims, the Reversibility Network will support a...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9859053
- **Project number:** 1R24AG065174-01
- **Recipient organization:** BROWN UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** Keith Godfrey
- **Activity code:** R24 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $420,804
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-04-15 → 2023-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9859053

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9859053, Reversibility Network: Interventions to Reverse or Remediate Effects of Early Life Adversity on Ageing Processes (1R24AG065174-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9859053. Licensed CC0.

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