Research

Current Studies

Prenatal Exposure to Obstetric Racism: Effects on Maternal and Newborn Health

We are studying how prenatal exposure to racism can become biologically embedded to affect maternal, fetal, and newborn health. Led by Sierra Carter, PhD, this multisite study in Atlanta and Durham will help to uncover how obstetric and other forms of racism can impact the birthing person. We will also examine culturally-relevant factors that buffer against racism-related stress, and that help families thrive.

We received funding from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (R01HD107016).

Intergenerational Transmission of Psychopathology

Baby lying on back on fuzzy surface with hand in mouth

How is risk for psychopathology transmitted across generations? We examine how prenatal exposure to emotion dysregulation could lead to risk for behavior challenges in the child. The goal is to improve our understanding of this complex process to intervene early and prevent the development of psychopathology.

This study originated in Utah with Sheila Crowell, PhD, associate professor of clinical psychology and health psychology at the University of Utah. We received funding from the National Institutes for Mental Health (R01MH119070; 1R21MH109777).

Prenatal Exposure to Opioids and Other Substances

Woman with her hands on her pregnant belly - belly only

How might prenatal exposure to opioids and other substances impact infant development? How can we better identify risk for withdrawal symptoms in these infants? In this multi-site study with Brown University we will collect data on prenatal substance exposure and co-occurring exposures to early life stress and track infant development across the first 18 months of life. Our goal is to help caregivers and pediatricians to identify risk for neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome to ultimately prevent it’s occurrence. 

This is a multi-site study with co-PI Barry Lester, PhD, professor of psychiatry and human behavior and professor of pediatrics at Brown University. We received funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA049755).

Selected Publications

List to provide short list of publications.

  • Ostlund, B., Vlisides-Henry, R.D., Crowell, S.E., Raby, K.L., Terrell, S., Brown, M., Tinajero, R., Shakiba, N., Monk, C., Shakib, J., Buchi, K.F., & Conradt, E. (2019). Intergenerational transmission of emotion dysregulation part II: Developmental origins of newborn neurobehavioral risk for psychopathology. Development and Psychopathology, 31, 833-846.

  • Conradt, E., Flannery, T., Aschner, J., Croen, L., Duarte, C., Friedman, A., Guiille, C., Hedderson, M., Hofheimer, J., Jones, M., Ladd-Acosta, C., McGrath, M., Moreland, A., Neiderhiser, J., Nguyen, R., Posner, J., Ross, J., Savitz, D., Ondersma, S., & Lester, B.M. (2019). Prenatal opioid exposure: Neurodevelopmental consequences and future research priorities. Pediatrics, 144.

  • Conradt, E., Crowell, S.E., & Cicchetti, D. (2021). Using development and psychopathology principles to inform the research domain criteria (RDoC) framework.  Development and Psychopathology, 33, 1521-1525.

  • Gao, M.M., Speck, B., Ostlund, B., Neff, D, Shakiba, N., Vlisides-Henry, R., Kaliush, P.R., Molina, N.C., Thomas, L., Raby, L., Crowell, S.E., & Conradt, E. (2022). Early developmental foundations of physiological dynamics between mothers and infants: The role of newborn neurobehavior. Child Development, 93, 1090-1105.  

  • Gao, M. M., Kaliush, P. R., Brown, M.A., Shakiba, N., Raby, K. L., Crowell, S. E., & Conradt, E. (2022). Unique contributions of maternal prenatal and postnatal emotion dysregulation on infant respiratory sinus arrhythmia. Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology, 1-14. 

Visit Dr. Liz Conradt's faculty profile to see current grants, publications and more.