# Maternal adversity, inflammation, and neurodevelopment: How intergenerational processes perpetuate disadvantage in a low-resource setting

> **NIH NIH R01** · NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC · 2020 · $587,272

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) - which includes physical/sexual abuse, neglect or parental
mental illness - confer risk for psychiatric dysfunction not only to those directly exposed, but also to
the next generation. However, mechanisms underlying these ACE-related intergenerational
effects are unclear, significantly limiting a unique prevention opportunity. Our study aims to examine
mechanisms by which maternal ACEs influence offspring neurodevelopment, with special focus on
prenatal inflammation. Toward this end, we will enroll, in the Brazilian Universal Health Care system
(SUS), pregnant women with (n=290) and without (n=290) a history of substantial ACEs and follow
their offspring over the first two years of life focused on the neurodevelopment of cognitive control, a
cornerstone in the future development of impulsive behaviors. First, we will start by testing
associations between maternal ACEs and offspring brain-behavior development using infant MRI and
behavioral assessments of cognitive control. Second, we will examine mechanisms underlying these
associations, focusing on the role of prenatal inflammation and the placenta using techniques to
examine DNA epigenetics and RNA sequencing, while also taking into account genetic influences. As
suggested by preclinical research, we hypothesize differential effects of prenatal inflammation in male
vs. female pregnancies. In addition, we will explore modifiable post-natal factors and their influence
on offspring neurodevelopment, monitoring parental depressive/mood symptoms and conducting two
in-home assessments of the family. Revealing mechanisms of intergenerational transmission of
adversity, our study will set the stage for high-impact preventive research. We will establish research
infrastructure within a São Paulo
primary care clinic network in a high-risk, low-resource community
where preventive effects can have their most substantial impact. This R01 proposal is designed to be
highly responsive to the NIH-FAPESP Funding Initiative (NOT-TW-16-001), which aims to support
collaborative international research between investigators in the US and a stellar research group in
the State of São Paulo, Brazil.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9917445
- **Project number:** 1R01MH121070-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK STATE PSYCHIATRIC INSTITUTE DBA RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR MENTAL HYGIENE, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Cristiane S. Duarte
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $587,272
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-03-16 → 2024-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9917445

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9917445, Maternal adversity, inflammation, and neurodevelopment: How intergenerational processes perpetuate disadvantage in a low-resource setting (1R01MH121070-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9917445. Licensed CC0.

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