2025 Kucharski Young Investigator Award Lauren C. Shuffrey, PhD

The prenatal environment significantly influences physical and mental health across the lifespan, yet the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. My research program investigates pregnancy as a critical developmental window for both maternal mental health and infant brain-behavioral outcomes. At the RESILIENT Lab, our projects primarily explore the impact of prenatal maternal metabolic disorders, stress, early-life trauma, and substance exposure on these outcomes, from birth through early childhood. We employ a diverse range of methodologies, including bioassays, physiological monitoring, behavioral assessments, eye tracking, and electroencephalography (EEG), to address our research questions. Our overarching goal is to uncover mechanisms, identify objective markers, and pinpoint modifiable factors that promote resiliency, ultimately supporting families from pregnancy through early childhood.