👉 Emily Research, led by Dr. Emily B. Hwang at the University of California, San Francisco, is a pioneering study investigating the role of early-life stress and maternal mental health in shaping adult mental health outcomes, particularly depression and anxiety. Focusing on the intergenerational transmission of trauma, the research examines how adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and maternal psychological distress during pregnancy can alter fetal brain development and epigenetic markers, increasing the risk of mental health disorders in offspring and subsequent generations. Using longitudinal data from over 1,000 participants, Emily Research employs advanced neuroimaging, genetic analysis, and behavioral assessments to uncover biological pathways linking early adversity to later illness, emphasizing the critical need for early intervention and supportive maternal care to mitigate long-term psychological harm.
