Federal Project Grant Award Summary

Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island received a $248,999 Project Grant award from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) under the Child Health and Human Development Extramural Research program (CFDA 93.865). The award, effective May 1, 2026 through June 30, 2029, funds research examining the interactive effects of maternal prenatal stress and nutrition intervention on long-term child developmental outcomes. The research leverages existing data from the Enhancing Nutrition and Antenatal Infection Treatment for Maternal and Child Health (ENAT) trial, which enrolled 2,390 pregnant women randomized to receive either an enhanced nutrition package or standard care.

The research deliverables include analysis of child cognitive and neural development at 24 months of age using validated assessments of attention, memory, and language, as well as electroencephalography (EEG) to measure neural oscillation and maturation. Additionally, the project will examine maternal and newborn telomere length as biomarkers to investigate biological pathways underlying the relationship between maternal prenatal perceived stress, nutrition intervention, and child outcomes. These research activities will advance understanding of how prenatal nutrition may mitigate stress-related developmental risks and contribute to the evidence base for maternal and child health interventions.