# Early Signals of Inattention in Neonates and Infants at Familial Risk for ADHD

> **NIH NIH K23** · UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH · 2020 · $189,760

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
Dr. Joseph’s long-term goal is to become an independent physician-investigator specializing in identification of
neonatal and infant precursors to the development of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and early
interventions aimed at preventing symptom expression in children at risk for ADHD. She has expertise in
assessment and treatment of ADHD from childhood to adulthood. This K23 career development award will
allow her to emerge as one of the few physician-investigators prepared to evaluate neonates and infants at risk
for developmental disorders. In recent work Dr. Joseph evaluated child behaviors among preschool-aged
children born to fathers with and without childhood ADHD. She found that children at familial risk for ADHD
were observed to have dysregulated behavior as early as 3 years of age, a potential indicator of the eventual
development of ADHD. To study earlier precursors of ADHD, Dr. Joseph aims to receive training in (1) the
longitudinal course of childhood ADHD including the variability in ADHD symptoms over time and range of
functional outcomes (2) the cognitive development of attention from birth through childhood to understand how
inattention in infancy may serve as an early indicator of atypical development; and (3) advanced statistical
methods in the analysis of longitudinal data. These aims will be accomplished through a combination of
coursework, directed readings, and tutorials. Dr. Joseph’s mentorship team is comprised of Drs. Brooke Molina
(primary mentor), a leader in the field of ADHD specializing in course and outcomes for individuals with the
disorder, Jana Iverson (co-mentor), an expert in atypical development and identification of infants at-risk for
neurodevelopmental disorders, and Erik Thiessen (secondary mentor), a specialist in the cognitive
development in infancy, along with knowledgeable consultants with complementary skill sets. The University of
Pittsburgh offers a strong research environment in which to train with supports for professional development
and infrastructure to aid in participant recruitment. Offspring (N=100), half with a parent with ADHD, will be
assessed serially as neonates (brith-1 month) and infants (8-10 months) with parent reported behavior
collected in toddlerhood (18 months) to compare indices of attention in offspring at high vs. low risk for ADHD
(Aim 1) and evaluate neonate and infant indices of attention as predictors of toddler attention (Aim 2). Parent’s
joint attention with their infant will be examined in relation to parent ADHD status and offspring attention in
toddlerhood (Aim 3). Data from this project may provide initial evidence for the utility of novel early markers of
childhood inattention detectable in the first year of life, a critical step towards early identification and
intervention for childhood ADHD. The proposed study aligns with NIMH strategic objective 2 to chart mental
illness trajectories including characterization of de...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9868166
- **Project number:** 1K23MH121585-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH AT PITTSBURGH
- **Principal Investigator:** Heather Marie Joseph
- **Activity code:** K23 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $189,760
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-01-01 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9868166

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9868166, Early Signals of Inattention in Neonates and Infants at Familial Risk for ADHD (1K23MH121585-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9868166. Licensed CC0.

---

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