Grant: Doctoral Research Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), such as intellectual disability, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and autism spectrum disorder, are on the rise. It is well-known that exposure to a wide variety of environmental stressors during pregnancy can impact neurodevelopment. While environmental stressors often co-occur - particularly among at-risk populations - most studies consider the effects of only one environmental exposure. Without uncovering the complex and dynamic interplay between various environmental factors, the multifactorial cause of NDDs cannot be fully understood. Therefore, the proposed study will apply the exposome concept which aims to quantify the totality of environmental exposures from conception onwards and to explain individual vulnerability and resilience to early environmental exposures. Specifically, I will assess the relative contributions of combined exposure to environmental stressors and protective factors on children's intelligence and behavioral development at age 5. This study capitalizes on the prospective New Hampshire Birth Cohort Study (NHBCS), designed to examine the impact of environmental and lifestyle factors on the health of pregnant women and children living in rural New Hampshire. I will use archived data and biobank samples from the NHBCS to assess prenatal exposure to chemicals, diet quality, maternal depression, and socioeconomic status, as well as the quality of the home environment, and the parent-child relationship. I will use a state-of-the-art analytical technique that enables the measurement of the combined and interactive impact of environmental stressors and protective factors on neurodevelopment. Understanding the neurodevelopmental impact of environmental exposures during early brain development presents an opportunity to improve health equity through informing policy- and practice-oriented solutions that can reduce risks.