Research — REID Lab

We study how early social experiences & nutrition together impact human development.

Our Research

We study how the things we experience when we're young - like how we're fed and how we interact with others - can impact how our brains and bodies grow and develop. We believe that studying this relationship is crucial to help children develop in healthy ways. We focus on figuring out the most important times when these experiences can have the biggest impact on development. We use special tools to measure how these experiences shape the way the brain and body grow, and how changes in what we eat and how we interact with others can affect this process. Our goal is to share what we learn with everyone who can use it, like teachers, doctors, and parents. We want to help make sure that all kids have the best chance to grow and thrive.

How might psychosocial stress impact iron metabolism in pregnant people & their newborns?

This project focuses on how stress during pregnancy can affect the risk of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) for both the pregnant parent and baby. IDA is a condition where there isn't enough iron in the body, which can cause problems during pregnancy and impact the baby's brain development. The project aims to study how this happens, looking at both biological and behavioral factors. There is concern that taking iron supplements might not be enough to protect against IDA in cases where the mother is experiencing chronic stress and inflammation. The research team hopes that their findings will help identify new ways to prevent and treat IDA during pregnancy, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for both mothers and babies.

K99HD109373 | PI: Reid

How do experiences of stress and malnutrition in infancy impact cardiometabolic health in adolescence?

In collaboration with the University of Minnesota Institute for Child Development, this study looks at how stress and lack of proper nutrition during infancy can affect the risk of health problems later on, specifically during adolescence. This is an important time when mental and physical health can start to affect how we function as adults. We are studying a group of young people over time to see how things like heart health, behavior, and the immune system are affected by early life stress and malnutrition. We hope our findings will help us better understand how these early experiences can affect our long-term health and well-being.

R01HL149709 | PI: Gunnar | Reid Role: Co-I