The Boston Birth Cohort (BBC) is one of the nation’s largest and longest-running studies of pregnancy and child health. Since 1998, **more than 8,700 families** have partnered with researchers at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and the [Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-on-early-life-origins-of-disease/ongoing-studies "Ongoing Studies | Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (publichealth.jhu.edu)") in Baltimore, Maryland, to help us better understand how pregnancy and early-life experiences influence health throughout life. Today, many of the children who joined the study have grown into adults—and some are now parents themselves. Together, we are proud to be following **three generations of families**. ## Our Mission By understanding how early-life exposures influence health, we hope to prevent childhood and adult diseases and promote lifelong wellbeing. ## Our Research Projects Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Preterm Birth Study (PTB) Children’s Health Study (CHS) Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Preterm Birth Study (PTB) Children’s Health Study (CHS) Now Enrolling## Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) The Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) study is a brand-new research project that is currently recruiting! We are holding research focus groups at Boston Medical Center, with the goal of making sure that key information about autism research design and findings are effectively communicated from the autism community to researchers **and** from researchers back to the community. We are hoping for broad participation from the autism community. **Participation in the Preterm Birth or Children’s Health Study (our previous studies) is not necessary to be eligible to participate.** ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/284e8b4b-717a-4631-99bd-78f6a9a0ab91/Community-Feedback-Session-Group-Discussion-Getty-Images-2181646647?io=transform:fill,width:550,gravity:center&format=webp) ### Are you Eligible to Participate? You may be eligible if you are: - **A person who has a diagnosis of Autism** - A patient at Boston Medical Center - 18 years of age or older - Able to speak or communicate in English Or, if you are: - A **caregiver** of someone with autism who receives care at BMC and speaks English - An **educator, healthcare provider, or professional** who supports children or adults with autism If you are interested in sharing your expertise to help guide how autism research is planned, understood, and shared, please email [AutismBoard\_interest@bmc.org](mailto:AutismBoard_interest@bmc.org) to see whether you are eligible to participate, or find out more about our work. [Email Us](mailto:AutismBoard_interest@bmc.org) ### Informational Flyers View or download our informational flyers targeted to patients, caregivers, and healthcare providers: **For Patients** [![Screenshot: BMC Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Research Focus Groups: Informational Flyer for Patients](/sites/default/files/Research/pediatrics/boston-birth-cohort/2026-07-01-ADEPT-Study-Informational-Flyer-for-Patients.png)](/sites/default/files/Research/pediatrics/boston-birth-cohort/2026-07-01-ADEPT-Study-Informational-Flyer-for-Patients.pdf "Download: BMC Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Research Focus Groups: Informational Flyer for Patients (PDF)") **For Caregivers** [![Screenshot: BMC Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Research Focus Groups: Informational Flyer for Caregivers](/sites/default/files/Research/pediatrics/boston-birth-cohort/2026-07-14-ADEPT-Study-Informational-Flyer-for-Caregivers.png)](/sites/default/files/Research/pediatrics/boston-birth-cohort/2026-07-14-ADEPT-Study-Informational-Flyer-for-Caregivers.pdf "Download: BMC Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Research Focus Groups: Informational Flyer for Caregivers (PDF)") **For Providers** [![Screenshot: BMC Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Research Focus Groups: Informational Flyer for Providers](/sites/default/files/Research/pediatrics/boston-birth-cohort/2026-07-01-ADEPT-Study-Informational-Flyer-for-Providers.png)](/sites/default/files/Research/pediatrics/boston-birth-cohort/2026-07-01-ADEPT-Study-Informational-Flyer-for-Providers.pdf "Download: BMC Autism Data Engagement and Partnership Team (ADEPT) Research Focus Groups: Informational Flyer for Healthcare Providers (PDF)") ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/5ca288dc-e57b-4d3b-a94f-c6611a174b71/20160428ecBMC_916_web?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:topleft&format=webp) Ongoing Study## Preterm Birth Study (PTB) The Preterm Birth Study (PTB) explores the causes and consequences of preterm birth, one of the leading challenges affecting the health of mothers and babies. Preterm births remain a challenge in preventing and understanding due to its complex causes. By comparing babies born prematurely with similar babies born at full term, we study differences in genes, the body’s natural processes, and environmental exposures—such as air quality, neighborhood conditions, and other factors that may affect health. What we learn may help improve the prevention, treatment, and care of preterm birth for future families. This type of study design is called Case/Control design. That means some babies in the Boston Birth Cohort were born early, while others were born at or near full-term. By comparing these two groups, researchers can look for differences in health, pregnancy experiences, environmental exposures, and biological factors. To date, we have enrolled 8,700 mothers and infants in the Preterm Birth Study after delivery at Boston Medical Center. Approximately 20 percent of the mother–newborn pairs recruited in the Preterm Birth Study were born preterm. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/3c330961-a5a3-4429-9591-9787f1358b8c/shutterstock_137711462-mom-moving-daughter-college?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) Ongoing Study## Children’s Health Study (CHS) The Children’s Health Study (CHS) is a long-term follow-up study of children who were enrolled at birth in the PTB study and who continue to receive care at BMC. This project focuses on early childhood exposures that may affect mothers’ and children’s health over their lifetimes. Many enrolled children are now adults, with some even becoming parents themselves! We recently began following a third generation of families to better understand how health and illness may be influenced through generations. ## Our Team We are a team of researchers who work in many clinics and departments across Boston Medical Center and in partnership with the [Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/ "Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (publichealth.jhu.edu)") in Baltimore, Maryland. At BMC, we work with clinic staff and providers to connect with patients and ensure that ongoing participation in our study is convenient for busy families. ### Principal Investigators (PIs) ### William G. Adams, MD, FAAP ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/f0e60093-0823-4527-9d80-6bcfd131d266/Adams?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) Pediatrician; Director of Clinical Research Informatics, Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) ### Main Location BMC, Crosstown Center [801 Massachusetts Ave. 7th Floor Boston, MA 02119](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?q=801+Massachusetts+Ave.%2C+Boston%2C+MA+02119) ### Contact [617.414.7707](tel:617.414.7707) Request an Appointment ## Request an Appointment Request an Appointment ### Existing Patients Online: [Schedule With MyChart](https://mychart.bmc.org/)By phone: [Call 617.414.7707](tel:617.414.7707) ### New Patients By phone: [Call 617.414.7707](tel:617.414.7707) Close Dialog Refer a Patient ## Refer a Patient Refer a Patient Fax: 617.414.3679 Phone: [617.414.7707](tel:617.414.7707) Close Dialog [See Full Bio](/about-us/directory/doctor/william-g-adams-md-faap) ### Marilyn C. Augustyn, MD ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/e5a77384-e4af-478b-9fdc-8ffa2b73d4f6/Marilyn-Augustyn_web?io=transform:fill,width:333,height:500&format=jpg) Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician; Director, Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics ### Main Location BMC, Crosstown Center [801 Massachusetts Ave. 7th Floor Boston, MA 02119](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?q=801+Massachusetts+Ave.%2C+Boston%2C+MA+02119) ### Contact [617.414.4841](tel:617.414.4841) Request an Appointment ## Request an Appointment Request an Appointment ### Existing Patients Online: [Schedule With MyChart](https://mychart.bmc.org/)By phone: [Call 617.414.4841](tel:617.414.4841) ### New Patients By phone: [Call 617.414.4841](tel:617.414.4841) Close Dialog Refer a Patient ## Refer a Patient Refer a Patient Fax: 617.414.7915 Phone: [617.414.4841](tel:617.414.4841) Close Dialog [See Full Bio](/about-us/directory/doctor/marilyn-c-augustyn-md) ### Study Staff ### Colleen Pearson ![Headshot of Colleen Pearson, Project Manager for the Boston Birth Cohort long-term research study at Boston Medical Center](/sites/default/files/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-team-colleen-pearson-2x3-crop.jpg) ### Project Manager, Boston Birth Cohort Research Study [See Full Bio](/node/178766) ![Headshot of Colleen Pearson, Project Manager for the Boston Birth Cohort long-term research study at Boston Medical Center](/sites/default/files/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-team-colleen-pearson-2x3-crop.jpg) ### Colleen Pearson Project Manager, Boston Birth Cohort Research Study Colleen Pearson is the Project Manager for the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC). With more than two decades of experience supporting clinical research at Boston Medical Center, Colleen oversees the day-to-day operations of the study, ensuring that research activities are coordinated efficiently and that participants, data, and biospecimens are managed with the highest standards of quality and care. Colleen works closely with investigators, research staff, and collaborators to support the successful implementation of BBC research initiatives. She also provides operational support to the analytical team at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, facilitating data access, study coordination, and collaboration to advance discoveries that improve maternal and child health. Through her work, Colleen helps connect the many teams involved in the Boston Birth Cohort, supporting research that aims to better understand how early-life experiences influence health across the lifespan. ### Publications [Colleen Pearson @ Google Scholar](https://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&q=Colleen+Pearson "Search Results: Colleen Pearson | Google Scholar (scholar.google.com)") Close Dialog ### Leslie Azurdia ![Headshot of Leslie Azurdia, Clinical Research Assistant for the Boston Birth Cohort long-term research study at Boston Medical Center](/sites/default/files/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-team-leslie-azurdia-2x3-crop.jpg) ### Clinical Research Assistant, Boston Birth Cohort Research Study [See Full Bio](/node/178768) ![Headshot of Leslie Azurdia, Clinical Research Assistant for the Boston Birth Cohort long-term research study at Boston Medical Center](/sites/default/files/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-team-leslie-azurdia-2x3-crop.jpg) ### Leslie Azurdia Clinical Research Assistant, Boston Birth Cohort Research Study Leslie is responsible for participant recruitment and biospecimen collection and supporting the day-to-day operations of clinical research studies. Leslie completed her undergraduate degree at Emmanuel College in 2025. She is passionate about advancing maternal and pediatric care through research, particularly in underserved communities. She also volunteers at Boston Children’s Hospital, where she spends time playing with, comforting, and cuddling newborns and infants in the surgical unit. In her free time, Leslie enjoys hiking, birdwatching, dancing, knitting, and watching movies with her family. Close Dialog ### Kendal Evans ![Headshot of Kendal Evans, Clinical Research Assistant for the Boston Birth Cohort long-term research study at Boston Medical Center](/sites/default/files/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-team-kendal-evans-2x3-crop.jpg) ### Clinical Research Assistant, Boston Birth Cohort Research Study [See Full Bio](/node/178767) ![Headshot of Kendal Evans, Clinical Research Assistant for the Boston Birth Cohort long-term research study at Boston Medical Center](/sites/default/files/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-team-kendal-evans-2x3-crop.jpg) ### Kendal Evans Clinical Research Assistant, Boston Birth Cohort Research Study Kendal is responsible for participant recruitment, biospecimen collection, and supporting the day-to-day operations of our clinical research studies. She is particularly interested in child neurodevelopment and psychology. Kendal completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at Boston University in 2026. She is passionate about advancing pediatric health through research that supports healthy development and addresses the impacts of environmental and socioeconomic factors on the developing brain and body. In her free time, Kendal enjoys attending concerts, trying new restaurants, traveling, spending time with friends, and exploring nature. Close Dialog For Participants For Researchers ## Participation from Mothers and Children ![Email header accent image provided by the Boston Birth Cohort research study at BMC, showing a line drawing of a pregnant person on the left and silhouettes of children from infancy (crawling) to middle childhood (running)](/sites/default/files/inline-images/bmc-pediatrics-boston-birth-cohort-header-image.png)We would like to thank all the mothers and children who participate in our studies. Thank you for helping us advance research that will benefit children and families for generations to come! **Why do we ask both mothers and children to participate?** *Because your family’s health story is connected.* Health doesn’t begin when we are born. It begins during pregnancy and continues to be shaped by our experiences as we grow. What happens early in life can have lasting effects on our health—and may even affect future generations. That’s why we learn from mothers, children, and now grandchildren. By following families over time, we can better understand how early experiences, genetics, and the environments where we live and grow can shape health across generations. Together, we are learning: - How pregnancy and early-life experiences can shape lifelong health - What causes premature birth and how being born early can affect health and development - How our genes and the environment work together - How children grow, learn, and develop - Why some people develop certain health conditions while others do not - How the places where we live, learn, and grow can affect our health - How what we learn today can help improve health for future generations *Your family helps make this research possible.* Every family brings a unique story. By sharing your experiences and participating over time, you help researchers see the bigger picture—one family, one generation, and one story at a time. ## The Data We Collect As part of the Preterm and Children’s Health studies (PTB and CHS), we collect biological samples from mothers and children each year. These samples allow us to understand how your body is working and how mothers’ and children’s health changes over time. By studying samples from both mothers and children, we can learn how a mother’s health during pregnancy and beyond may influence a child’s growth, development, and long-term health. ## Preterm Birth Study The Preterm Birth Study (PTB) explores the causes and consequences of preterm birth, one of the leading challenges affecting the health of mothers and babies. By comparing babies born prematurely with similar babies born at full term, we study differences in genes, the body’s natural processes, and environmental exposures—such as air quality, neighborhood conditions, and other factors that may affect health. ### Maternal Blood Draw About 10 cubic centimeters (ccs), or 1½ teaspoons of blood is collected one time from your vein by a research assistant who is trained and certified to draw blood. The sample may be tested for biological factors such as inflammation and hormone biomarkers such as cortisol, involved in the body’s stress response, as well as genetics and epigenetics. These factors may help researchers understand the health of mothers and their children. ### Maternal Oral (Cheek) Swab A swab of the inside of your cheek is used to study the types of bacteria found in the mouth. Researchers can study whether these bacteria may be related to pregnancy and birth outcomes. The swab is collected only once. ### Cord Blood After your baby is born and the umbilical cord is clamped, a small amount of blood is collected from the umbilical cord attached to the placenta by the Labor & Delivery team. Cord blood provides a snapshot of your baby’s biology at birth that may be related to their in-utero course and health later in life. This is a one-time collection. ### Placenta After delivery, the research team collects a small section of the placenta. Studying the placenta helps researchers understand how it functioned during pregnancy and how it may be related to maternal pregnancy complications, birth outcomes, and a child’s health later in life. ### Maternal and Newborn Stool We collect a small amount of stool (fecal matter) to study the bacteria in the digestive system. This helps researchers understand the gut microbiome and how it may be related to child growth, development, health, and diseases. ### Information (Questionnaires and Review of Medical Records) We collect information about pregnancy, birth, your past and present medical history, and environmental and nutritional factors that may help researchers understand the health of mothers before and during their pregnancy and the health of their newborns. ## Children’s Health Study The Children’s Health Study (CHS) is a long-term follow-up study of children who participated in the Preterm Birth Study at birth and continue to receive care at Boston Medical Center. The CHS looks at how experiences and exposures during pregnancy and early childhood may affect health throughout life. **Understanding Mother and Child Health Together** A mother and child’s health are closely connected. What happens before and during pregnancy can affect a child’s health, while a child’s health and development can also affect a mother’s wellbeing. Following mothers and children over time helps researchers understand how these connections change throughout life and what factors may help both mothers and children stay healthy. ### Blood Draw (Mothers and Children) A small amount of blood (about a teaspoon from your child and 1½ teaspoon from mothers) is drawn from a vein by a trained BMC phlebotomist. Blood samples may be studied for biomarkers of metabolic health, immune system, genetics, epigenetics, and other factors related to growth, development, health, and the risk of certain health conditions. We do not ask you or your child for a blood draw every year. We ask mothers for a blood sample once every 5 years, and for children we ask for a blood draw at specific ages when we expect that your child’s health care provider would also want a blood sample for their clinical care. Those times are: - When your child is 9–12 months old - When your child is 2–3 years old - When your child is 4–5 years old - When your child is 6–7 years old - When your child is 10–15 years old ### Saliva and Oral (Cheek) Swabs Saliva and cheek swabs are less invasive ways to collect biological information. A research assistant may gently swab the inside of your or your child’s mouth with a special swab or ask you or your child to spit into a collection container. Saliva can be used to measure hormones such as cortisol and testosterone, which can provide information about the body’s stress response and other biological processes. ### Urine Samples When your child is toilet/potty trained, you will be given a urine specimen cup and asked to provide a urine sample from you and your child. Urine samples can be used to look for signs of environmental exposures, including exposures to chemicals in the environment. Researchers can then study whether these exposures may be related to health, including kidney health. ### Waist Measurement We measure the distance around your waist to learn about central body fat distribution and changes overtime. Such information may be related to blood pressure, heart health, diabetes, and other aspects of health. ### Body Composition Assessment We use a scale called Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (BIA) to estimate body composition, including the amount of fat, muscle, bone, and water in the body. These measurements help researchers understand how body composition changes over time and how those changes may be related to health. ### Information (Questionnaires and Review of Medical Records) **Questionnaires** We ask families about many parts of everyday life and health, including social support, behavior, nutrition, sleep, illnesses, development, and the home environment. For some of the questionnaires, we will ask you to complete them during your visit. For other questionnaires about your child’s behavior and development, we can send you a link so that you can complete the forms online when you have time. This information helps researchers understand the many factors that can shape a mother’s health and a child’s health and wellbeing throughout childhood and beyond. **Medical Records** We also review the mother’s and child’s medical records each year. Medical records provide health information documented by healthcare providers that may be difficult to remember or report accurately. This may include: - Medical and emergency room visits - Diagnoses and health conditions - Blood pressure and weight - Laboratory tests - X-rays and other scans - Treatments and medications - Other information recorded during healthcare visits Reviewing this information helps researchers understand how health changes over time and how early-life experiences may be related to later health and health care needs across the life course. Scientific Findings## What Have We Learned? Your participation has helped us for more than two decades to reach scientific conclusions that can improve the health of parents and children worldwide. Here are some of our most recent scientific conclusions (peer-reviewed and published in respected scientific journals): ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/7246c562-0c7d-4633-8a0c-08a4389f6a98/shutterstock_304751963?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### Diet during Pregnancy Could Impact Social and Communication Skills in Children Greater maternal adherence to a Mediterranean-style diet during pregnancy was associated with better social interaction and communication development in children. [Read the Study (Che et al., 2025)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40583365/) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/3d7907c3-cada-4849-a6ac-750db3d45eb0/pediatrician-treats-family_feature?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### Exposure to “Forever Chemicals” during Pregnancy May Make Vaccines Less Protective for Children Higher PFAS exposure during pregnancy may weaken children’s immune response to the measles vaccine, particularly in Black and preterm children. [Read the Study (Hong et al., 2025)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40215916/) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/91e50767-5852-4c1c-b9f4-c22945abeeaa/shutterstock_188969954-family-picnic?io=transform:fill,width:768,aspectratio:21x9,gravity:center&format=webp) ### Less Exposure to Heavy Metals during Pregnancy Could Mean a Lower Risk of Early Puberty in Children Reducing exposure to heavy metals before and during pregnancy, along with supporting healthy weight before pregnancy, may help lower the risk of earlier puberty in children. [Read the Study (Katagiri et al., 2025)](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40373995/) ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/a35026c7-41c6-4b11-9701-af913fa127f9/1800x1800?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) ## Our Research In 1998, the Boston Birth Cohort (BBC) was initiated at Boston Medical Center (BMC) in response to persistently high rates of preterm birth (PTB, defined as birth before 37 weeks of gestation) in the US population and the longstanding profound PTB disparity among Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). The BBC encompasses two linked study protocols: The Preterm Birth Study serves as the baseline recruitment in the BBC. It aims to address fundamental questions about the causes and consequences of PTB. The study oversamples preterm babies using a case/control study design, in which cases are defined as mothers who deliver a preterm and/or low birthweight baby (<2500 grams regardless of gestational age). Controls are enrolled at a 2:1 control/case ratio and matched by maternal age (±5 years), self-reported race and ethnicity, and date of delivery (± 7 days for case delivery). From inception, it was designed as a comprehensive gene-environmental study of PTB. As a natural extension, the Children’s Health Study, under a separate but linked IRB protocol, is a longitudinal follow-up study of the participants who were recruited at birth in the Preterm Birth Study and who continue pediatric care at BMC. This linked model allows for investigation of early life origins of pediatric and chronic disease in a prospective cohort design. The BBC is one of the largest and longest NIH-funded prospective birth cohort studies in the US, consisting of 8733 mother-child dyads enrolled in the Preterm Birth Study at birth, and of those, 3,592 children have been enrolled in the Children’s Health Study, with a median follow-up of 14.5 years. The BBC mirrors the urban, under-resourced and underrepresented BIPOC population served by BMC. A high proportion of BBC children were born prematurely and had chronic health conditions (e.g., asthma, obesity and elevated blood pressure) in childhood. The BBC’s long-term goal has been to build a large, comprehensive database (epidemiological, clinical, multi-omics) and biospecimen repository to elucidate early life origins of pediatric and chronic diseases and identify modifiable upstream factors (e.g., psychosocial, environmental, nutritional) to improve health across the life course for BIPOC mothers and children. [Read about the BBC Profile and Study Design in Precision Nutrition (2022)](https://www.ovid.com/jnls/pn/fulltext/10.1097/pn9.0000000000000011) ## Topics We Are Investigating We are interested in how our environment and genes impact health over the life course, as well as how we can best engage our community and communicate findings with them. Specific areas we have explored over our decades of research include: - Prenatal, perinatal, and birth health outcomes - Allergies, asthma, and upper and lower airway conditions - Neurodevelopmental outcomes, including autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - Nutrition, obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke - Puberty and early-life risk factors - Impact of COVID-19 on maternal and child health - Best practices for research on Autism (ASD) and communicating scientific findings with the community You can review a full list of our publications on the website of our research partner, the Center on the Early Life Origins of Disease at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. [View Our Full List of Publications](https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-on-early-life-origins-of-disease/publications) ## Currently Funded Projects - **NIH 1OT2OD040418-01. Boston Birth Cohort—Autism Data Science Initiative (BBC-ADSI)** - 09/1/2025 – 08/31/2028 - The BBC Autism Data Engagement Partnership Team (ADEPT) will work in partnership with the autism community to help shape the direction of the research and ensure that the perspectives of autistic individuals, caregivers, and service providers inform the initiative. - **HRSA 1 UT7MC45949-01. Autism Longitudinal Data Project** - 09/01/2022 – 08/31/2027 - The primary goal of this project is to transform the Boston Birth Cohort into a well-phenotyped longitudinal cohort for autism research, with a focus on linking early life factors to elucidate origins and developmental trajectories of ASD and other DD across the life stages. - **NIEHS U01ES034983. Immune Development across the Life Course: Integrating Exposures and Multi-Omics in the Boston Birth Cohort** - 7/01/2022 – 6/30/2027 - We aim to advance our understanding of immune development and health consequences from in-utero to age 18 years. We seek to gain new insight into the impact of the complex interplay between maternally transmitted antibodies, individual multi-omics and environmental exposures on immune development and important clinical outcomes, including antibody response to vaccines, clinically diagnosed viral or bacterial infections, and atopic diseases. - **NICHD 2 R01HD041702-17. Preterm Birth and Child Long-term Cardiometabolic Risk: Integrate Proteomics with Birth Cohort** - 04/01/2022 – 3/31/2027 - Preterm birth (PTB) affects 1 in 7 Black babies born in the US. This study addresses critical questions regarding the preterm origin of cardiometabolic risk in children in the Boston Birth Cohort. ![](https://assets.bmc.org/transform/caf74a7c-0872-4762-837e-7cfb7fbec3b3/iStock-1215515956-jpg?io=transform:fill,width:350,gravity:center&format=webp) ## Contact Us We deeply appreciate your contributions, and together, we aim to improve the health of future generations. ##### For current participants and general inquiries: BBC Field Team (Research Assistants): [BBC\_participant@bmc.org](mailto:BBC_participant@bmc.org) This email connects you with Boston Birth Cohort research staff who regularly interact with study participants. Please reach out if you have any questions related to this study! ##### For clinicians, researchers, and scientific collaboration opportunities: BBC Field Project Manager: This email connects you with our Project Manager, Colleen Pearson. We’re happy to share resources and look forward to collaborating!