Many more people today are developing chronic illnesses, especially in city environments. Previous studies have suggested that a child's early development can be affected by the environment in which they live. This research study, Origins of Child Health and Resilience in Development, or ORCHARD, hopes to gain more knowledge about how the environment can impact diseases, in particular obesity and neurodevelopmental disorders in childhood. With this information, we may be able to develop better strategies to treat and prevent chronic diseases in children. ORCHARD also hopes to learn more about long-term research studies involving pregnant women and their children.
The study follows pregnant women and the children from their pregnancies. They are followed through pregnancy until the child reaches 18 years of age.
Eligibility criteria: Participants must be aged 16-55 years old, less than 20 weeks gestation, and planning to deliver at Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Study procedure: We will mainly collect a few samples and gather information through surveys and chart review. We can try to coordinate these visits with your scheduled prenatal care appointments.
1st Trimester Visit:
- Blood
- Urine
- Oral, Vaginal, Rectal Swabs
- In-Person Survey (~30 Minutes)
2nd and 3rd Trimesters: Urine
Delivery:
- Blood
- Urine
- Oral, Vaginal, Rectal Swabs
- Umbilical Cord Blood
- Placental Samples
- In-Person Survey (~30 Minutes)
After Delivery: Short Surveys Via Phone or Email (~15 Minutes)
If you are interested in participating or have questions, please contact Mia Feller or Julia Clemens at ircfm@jhu.edu or 410-955-3636.
IRB number: IRB00142614 Principal investigator: Irina Burd, MD, PhD
