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Biospecimens
The COVID-19 pandemic was a time of significant change and uncertainty for many of us. We know that parents in particular have faced challenges, yet also showed remarkable resilience during this unique time, and there is much to learn from this special group of families. By collecting biospecimen samples, we aim to better understand the experiences of pregnancy and parenting during the pandemic on infant sleep and early development, and are excited to invite you to get involved - from the comfort of your own home!
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Biosamples contain information of the chemicals that enter the body, and chemicals that the body makes. This information allows us to make new discoveries about human growth and development. We can link the signals of your child's body to your child's unique behaviors, activities, and brain development.
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Participants will receive a user-friendly kit via mail, and samples will be returned back to us directly - no need for a lab visit! Click below to learn more about how we will collect these samples, and what they will be used for:
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Click on the samples below to learn more about how we will collect them:
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How do we collect blood samples? You will use a user-friendly device called a “Tasso” to collect a blood sample from near your shoulder. ​The full instructions will be included in your kit. If you’re curious, you can see a video about how the Tasso works here​
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Briefly - the Tasso has a big red button that when pushed down, a small needle pricks your skin, but it doesn’t stay inside your arm. It has a sticky back pad to keep it pressed against your skin and help draw a small amount of blood from your arm. Taking off the Tasso is like peeling off a sticker — since the needle doesn’t stay in your arm, it shouldn’t hurt!​
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What are the blood samples used for? We will be testing for inflammation levels. You might know that inflammation goes up during times of illness, but did you know that other things in our environment can influence inflammation? Things like stress, diet, social interaction, and more can all influence the body’s inflammatory processes. It seems to play an important role in general physical and mental health, and child development. But we have a lot more to learn,and everyone is unique!
Saliva Collection
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Saliva collection is a simple way scientists learn about stress!
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How do we collect saliva? ​For parents, a small tube will be used to collect some drool.
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For children, a swab will be used. More detailed instructions will be included in your mailed collection kit, but it is easy and painless!
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What are the saliva samples used for? Saliva can be used to measure a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol levels go up and down during the day, and cortisol seems to also be associated with stress. By measuring cortisol in a large number of people, scientists are able to investigate how daily stress levels might be related to physical and mental health.
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How do we collect nails? We will ask you to take clippings of each of your and your child's finger nails. Easy!
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What are the saliva samples used for? Cortisol levels can also be measured in nails, so collecting nail clippings is another way to learn about stress. As nails grow, they capture stress signals through cortisol and can show how stress affects us over long periods of time. From this fascinating new area of science, it seems that fingernails can tell us something about chronic stress!
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Infant Stool Collection​
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How do we collect stool samples? You will collect this sample from your child's diaper or potty using a simple, hygienic kit.
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What are the stool samples used for? From the sample, we will be able to measure the community of healthy microbes living in the digestive tract-- the microbiome.
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The microbiome plays a crucial role in digestion, immunity, and even affects mood and behavior. You will be contributing to the fascinating new area of science of the “gut-brain connection”, and help us make discoveries about how activity in the gut is linked to stress, wellbeing, and development!