ASCEHND: Advanced Stanford Center for Early HumaN Development

About This Grant

The embryonic, fetal, and neonatal periods are critical for lifelong health. During early human development, the coalescence of genomics and other endogenous factors with exposure to maternal and environmental influences plays a vital role in shaping infant health and lifelong disease risk. These most plastic phases of intrauterine and early extrauterine periods are also defined by dramatic changes in human physiology, when the fetus transitions through embryonic and neonatal states. Not surprisingly, therefore, common syndromes that occur during these vulnerable developmental phases have a major impact on health across the lifespan, and thus, on the future of humanity. Major gestational syndromes currently affect more than one in every ten pregnancies nationwide, with an even greater frequency in the developing world, with extraordinary consequences to the physical and emotional health of an individual, as well as to healthcare and economy. Despite its impact on health, inquiries into antenatal, perinatal, neonatal, and infancy phases early human development have not received adequate attention by researchers. We have been particularly concerned about the lack of trainees who are proficient in understanding the transition from intrauterine to early extrauterine life. We are also motivated by the shortage of well-trained researchers who can embrace cutting edge artificial intelligence and other data science tools and harness their power in deep investigation into the transitions that take place during early human developments, and the translation of that knowledge to human health for individuals, families, and all human communities. Therefore, our proposed T32 training program, termed “Advanced Stanford Center for Early HumaN Development” (ASCEHND) will equip two graduate and three postdoctoral scholars with a 2-3 year investigative training in the biology of early human development, from early pregnancy to the neonatal period. We will instruct scholars in the biology, data-science, biomedical and epidemiological aspects of embryonic development, fetoplacental growth, parturition, and early infancy, and the diseases that affect humans during these developmental epochs. The knowledge and experience gained through our well defined and rigorous program will amalgamate multiple research trajectories with AI tools and technologies to form a pipeline for experts in the biology of early human development. Using hands-on research training, courses and classwork, seminars and group sessions, trainees of various scientific perspectives will be trained to face tomorrow’s challenges in the field. Supplemental instruction in cell biology, molecular biology, genomics, statistics, ethics, and similar high priority areas will serve to bring all trainees to a very high level of data science-driven investigative sophistication. The intellectual environment at Stanford emphasizes imaginative thinking, cross-fertilization and collaboration that bridges basic sciences and clinical medicine and will serve to propel our T32 scholars through a uniquely stimulating and enriching experience.