Infancy

The GCRC Infancy Core was established to give Investigators access to a wider range of research infrastructure. It is a collaborative effort between the Center for Neurobehavioral Development and the General Clinical Research Center to support research in developmental cognitive neuroscience. The infancy core, under the direction of Dr. Michael Georgieff, is able to provide support to investigators studying any aspect of human growth, development or metabolism by providing space, nursing, dietary and statistical support through the GCRC. The core offers specialized testing and assessment tools.

The Infancy Core currently focuses on two major thematic components: cognitive and affective neuroscience of typical and atypical development, and the effect of early adversity on neurobehavioral development. The first component focuses primarily on research investigating the neural underpinnings of cognitive and emotional development in typically and atypically developing children, and children at risk for delays in these areas. The focus of the second component is to examine the neurobiologic effects of early adversity (e.g. malnutrition, institutionalization, lead toxicity) on the developing brain. We have plans to develop a third thematic component, one concerned with a clinical neuroscience approach to intervention. This component will likely target children in whom frank neuropathology or psychopathology has been diagnosed, or children at risk for developing such pathology.