Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of the Director awarded a Project Grant of $458,331 to the University of Cincinnati's Sponsored Research Services Division under the Trans-NIH Research Support program (CFDA 93.310), effective August 1, 2026 through July 31, 2028. This award funds a research initiative titled "Characterizing Late Talking in Prematurity Using Neuroimaging and Language Sample Analysis," which leverages an existing longitudinal dataset of 191 children born prematurely (23-32 weeks gestational age) to identify predictive markers distinguishing transient language delays from persistent communication difficulties. The research will analyze brain connectivity imaging data collected at term-equivalent age alongside standardized communication assessments and behavioral measures conducted at ages 2 and 3 years (corrected for prematurity), incorporating contextual factors including social risk, home environment, early intervention exposure, and medical diagnoses.

The project will re-analyze extant data to establish key neuroimaging and behavioral variables that predict communication outcomes in preterm-born children, with particular focus on the approximately 20% of cohort participants who meet late-talking criteria and those exhibiting deficits in receptive language, gesture, social-affective communication, or symbolic play. This research directly addresses the clinical gap in distinguishing developmentally emerging language skills from early indicators of persistent communication disorders in a high-risk population, ultimately providing evidence-based guidance for early identification and intervention in preterm populations.