Chicago Perinatal Origins of Disease (CPOD) Cohort and the Founders' 400 Study

Welcome to the Chicago Perinatal Origins of Disease (CPOD) Cohort and the Founders' 400 research study. This study, led by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Stanley Manne Children's Research Insitute at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, aims to understand how early-life environmental, social, and biological exposures affect lifelong health. Our research follows families from pregnancy through two years of infant life to explore key influences of pregnancy, newborn, and early childhood health.

About the Study

The CPOD study is a pioneering effort to learn more about what impacts health in pregnancy and early childhood. Our goal is to recruit a cohort of 400 mother-child pairs, with a focus on diversity and inclusion. By collecting social, environmental, medical, and biological data, we aim to answer critical health questions, including:

• How do early-life antimicrobial exposures impact the microbiome?
• What role do environmental exposures, like dust, water quality, and lead, play in child health?
• How do maternal adversity and support systems influence epigenetics and long-term health of baby?
• How does maternal stress alter metabolism and affect pregnancy outcomes?
• What placental markers can predict fetal growth and neurodevelopment?

This study is led by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians and investigators in pediatrics, maternal-fetal medicine, neonatology, microbiology, and environmental health. Participants for this study are recruited from Northwestern Medicine obstetric clinics and the Erie Family Health West Town clinic.