Founded in 1957, Life Course Development (LCD) aims to expand knowledge of social relationships across the lifespan and their implications for mental and physical health. LCD examines a wide variety of relationships, identifying the aspects of relationships that are most beneficial and/or harmful to health and whether these associations vary by demographic and contextual factors. With this knowledge, the program hopes to help in the design and implementation of intervention and prevention programs.

The Population, Neurodevelopment and Genetics Program (PNG) is a pioneer and leader in forging linkages across disciplinary perspectives. In addition to the program’s current effort to link developmental, cognitive, clinical, public health, and educational science with neurobiology and genetics, we continue to expand our portfolio and involve new research scholars in other health- and development-related topics from prenatal/infancy through adolescence and on to adulthood and aging, (e.g., cognition, substance use, mental health, problem behavior, environmental toxicants), providing opportunities for synergy and integration of new ideas in the relevant fields.