The Conditions Affecting Neurocognitive Development and Learning in Early Childhood (CANDLE) Study, led by Qi Zhao, MD, PhD, professor in the Department of Preventive Medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, has reached a milestone by receiving continued federal support to investigate how early-life environmental exposures affect health outcomes in children.
The long-running CANDLE Study, which began in 2006, will receive more than $4 million in direct funding over the next five years through the National Institutes of Health’s Environmental Influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Program. These funds will support continued data and biospecimen collection on a broad spectrum of child and adolescent health indicators, including obesity, neurocognitive development, airway health, and positive health outcomes.
The study was initially funded by the Urban Child Institute, a Memphis-based organization focused on research and education. It has evolved over the years with renewal applications, culminating in this latest award. The new award reflects a major milestone for the study, building on the successful completion of key first-year goals in 2024 for its new funding phase, including participant enrollment and data collection targets outlined in the ECHO study protocol.
A competitive transition application submitted in April 2025 further demonstrated the team’s progress and readiness to achieve the study’s long-term research aims.
“This achievement reflects the tremendous dedication and collaboration of our investigators, research staff, and institutional partners,” Dr. Zhao said. “We are proud to continue contributing to the national ECHO Program and to improving the health of children through impactful, longitudinal research.”
CANDLE’s progress strengthens UT Health Science Center’s role in shaping the future of pediatric health through rigorous, community-centered research and partnerships.