Exploring infant brain development
The Howell Lab is a group of Virginia Tech scientists working at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute in Roanoke, VA. We are dedicated to improving mother-infant health outcomes for our community by exploring the factors that influence healthy infant brain and behavioral development. We help families in our community through scientific research and provide a welcoming environment for our research participants.
What kind of research activities do we do?
We perform a variety of assessments, while focusing on provide a welcoming, safe environment for all of our research participants. All of our research methods are safe, non-invasive, and help our researchers understand and define characteristics that influence healthy infant brain development. Known factors that are important to healthy neurodevelopment include feeding and sleep habits, nutrition, stress levels, and social interactions.
Research activities may include:
Brain imaging
Playing with toys (behavior and development assessments)
- Online surveys for mom
Collection of infant stool samples
Collection of breast milk samples
What to expect during your study visit:
Current Studies
We at the MIND Lab want to gain a better understanding of characteristics that influence baby brain development. We are actively recruiting for multiple studies, please click on each to learn more!
Past Studies
Our Team
Brittany Howell
LAB DIRECTOR
Jamie Holt
LAB MANAGER
Rebecca Carpio
WET LAB MANAGER
Emily
Richardson
HBCD STUDY COORDINATOR
Danielle Murray
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION COORDINATOR
Caelan King
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Olivia Olinger
RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Julie Peck
HBCD STUDY NAVIGATOR
Collin Gregg
TBMH GRADUATE STUDENT
Megan
Evans
TBMH GRADUATE STUDENT
Claudia
Carreno
HDFS GRADUATE STUDENT
Blakely
Lockhart
TBMH GRADUATE STUDENT
Oziomachukwu
Chinaka
TBMH GRADUATE STUDENT
Raegan
Middelthon
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Laura Zhang
UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH ASSISTANT
Colleen Smith
DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT SPECIALIST
Erin
VandeLinde
RECRUITMENT
Kelly
Ingram
VTCSOM STUDENT
Nneoma
Edokobi
VTCSOM STUDENT
Audrey
Humphries
VTCSOM STUDENT
Catherine
Lavallee
VTCSOM STUDENT
Lab Alumni
Dawn Wright
FORMER MEDICAL STUDENT
Dr. Wright is currently a Neurology Resident at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Eunkyung Shin
FORMER POSTDOCTORAL ASSOCIATE
Dr. Shin is currently a Assistant Research Professor in the Cognition, Affect, and Temperament Laboratory at Penn State University
Sarah Yosief
FORMER MEDICAL STUDENT
Dr. Yosief is currently an Internal Medicine Resident at Duke University.
Jasmine
Johnson
FORMER TBMH GRADUATE STUDENT
Publications
Dr. Howell’s research has been published in more than 20 academic journals.
Recent News
Researchers to involve expectant moms in study of how opioids, other disruptors influence a child’s development
Researchers to involve expectant moms in study of how opioids, other disruptors influence a child’s development By Leigh Anne Kelley When Brittany Howell’s mother learned her daughter would be recruiting 300 pregnant women from across western Virginia and following them and their babies through age 10, she knew she had [...]
New Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty member links nature, nurture, and early brain development
New Fralin Biomedical Research Institute faculty member links nature, nurture, and early brain development Numerous studies have suggested that when expecting and new mothers are stressed, hormonal changes not only impact the mother’s health, but also affect the baby’s development. But unpacking these reports can be complicated. [...]