Our team studies how social connections and stress affect the way the body uses nutrients, especially during pregnancy and early childhood.

I’m Dr. Brie Reid, the Principal Investigator of the REID Lab. As a parent of two young children who’s participated in research studies, I know firsthand how valuable your time is, especially during pregnancy or while raising little ones. I want to share a little more about why we’re doing this research, and why your involvement really matters.

My journey in science began with a simple question: how do different environments shape the way children grow, learn, and get nourishment from food? This question took me from villages in Zimbabwe and Zambia, to cities in Chile, and to families here in the U.S.

What stood out to me was how little we knew about how stress may affect the way our bodies use the food we eat during pregnancy and early childhood, when strong nutrition is so important for growing minds and bodies.

That’s what inspired me to study how stress, emotions, and nutrition are all connected as children grow. The studies we conduct are the next step in our search for answers that could help families everywhere thrive.

Everything you’ll do in any of our studies is explained step-by-step in the consent form, and our friendly team will walk you through each part. We’re always here to answer your questions, and there are no silly questions!

Your participation helps us move science forward and brings us one step closer to finding effective ways to support families like yours—not just with good nutrition, but with understanding the role of stress, emotions, and support systems.

Thank you again for considering being part of this exciting journey! We hope to make your experience with us a positive and rewarding one.

Warm wishes,
Dr. Brie Reid
Principal Investigator, REID Lab