@article{b7bb6883c5a946a0b7896b7cb76fdf34,
title = "Innovative methods for remote assessment of neurobehavioral development",
abstract = "In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, research institutions across the globe have modified their operations in ways that have limited or eliminated the amount of permissible in-person research interaction. In order to prevent the loss of important developmentally-timed data during the pandemic, researchers have quickly pivoted and developed innovative methods for remote assessment of research participants. In this manuscript, we describe methods developed for remote assessment of a parent child cohort with a focus on examining the perinatal environment, behavioral and biological indicators of child neurobehavioral development, parent-child interaction, as well as parent and child mental and physical health. We include recommendations relevant to adapting in-laboratory assessments for remote data collection and conclude with a description of the successful dissemination of the methods to eight research sites across the United States, each of whom are involved in Phase 1 of the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. These remote methods were born out of pandemic-related necessity; however, they have much wider applicability and may offer advantages over in-laboratory neurodevelopmental assessments.",
keywords = "Biospecimens, COVID-19, HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, Infant neurobehavior, Negative affect, Remote data collection methods",
author = "Gustafsson, {Hanna C.} and Young, {Anna S.} and Gayle Stamos and Sydney Wilken and Brito, {Natalie H.} and Thomason, {Moriah E.} and Alice Graham and Nigg, {Joel T.} and Sullivan, {Elinor L.}",
note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health under grant numbers R01MH117177 (Sullivan and Nigg), R01MH124824 (Nigg and Sullivan), K01MH120507 (Gustafsson), R34DA050287 (Thomason) and NYU COVID Catalyst Grant (Brito and Thomason), R34 DA050291 and R34 DA05029-S1 (Graham and Fair). The funders played no role in the study design, the collection, analysis and interpretation of the data, in writing the report, or in the decision to submit the article for publication. We also acknowledge the contribution by all members of the iOPEN consortium. Funding Information: A strength of the coordinated shift to remote neurodevelopmental and biological assessment was opportunity to (a) increase sample diversity and representation by gathering data at a national level, (b) increase the overall sample size and foster opportunity for cross-site data sharing, and (c) set precedent for coordination efforts critical to Phase 2 of this major scientific initiative. Eight phase-one sites were awarded supplemental funding under the PA-18–935 “Urgent Competitive Revision to Existing NIH Grants and Cooperative Agreements” to carry out this work. Collectively referred to as the COVID-19 and Perinatal Experiences (COPE) study, and further harmonized with activities happening in parallel as part of the COVID-19 GENeration Alliance, www.covgen.org , these sites developed a core research protocol, encompassing many of the remote assessments described above. The overall cross-site sample size was 800 participants, with 320 of these participating in the full behavioral and biological assessment protocol, including multiple points of longitudinal assessment. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors",
year = "2021",
month = dec,
doi = "10.1016/j.dcn.2021.101015",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "52",
journal = "Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience",
issn = "1878-9293",
publisher = "Elsevier BV",
}