Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute presents “The Impacts of Child Maltreatment on Development: Implications for Prevention and Policy” at its next Translational Science Seminar Series webinar from noon to 1 p.m. on Nov. 19.
Jennie Noll, professor of human development and family studies and director of Penn State Child Maltreatment Solutions Network, will discuss challenges, opportunities and special considerations of researching this vulnerable population. Noll also is the institute’s special population liaison for childhood trauma/at-risk.
Child maltreatment is a common, costly and persistent problem worldwide. Survivors of maltreatment are at high risk for mental and emotional problems, psychiatric disorders, adolescent pregnancy and delinquency, revictimization, poor educational attainment and the transmission of the effect of maltreatment into future generations. Early life stress affects body functioning, including brain health, the immune system and cell aging. It is linked to negative health outcomes, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and premature death.
Noll will present highlights from her decades of longitudinal cohort studies where she uses prospective methods to strengthen causal inference maltreatment effects across the lifespan and test mechanistic models that inform novel treatment approaches. She will also present results from her research on universal sexual abuse prevention. In addition, Noll will discuss the activities of Penn State’s NIH Capstone Center, including basic research on the biological embedding of child maltreatment; community-based-participatory research that directly benefits the child welfare system; and developing a national model for a research-to-policy pipeline where researchers compile relevant research, translate findings into products to educate and support policymakers, and facilitate evidence-based policies designed to protect and promote the well-being of children.
The Translational Science Seminar Series: Bench to Bedside and Beyond encourages an engaged translational science workforce through panel discussions and practical application information.
The institute offers consultations for aging, pediatric obesity, military families and childhood trauma special populations. To request a special population consultation, complete an institute service request form.
For details about Penn State Clinical and Translational Science Institute and how its tools and services can help translational research be more efficient and promote collaboration, visit ctsi.psu.edu.