Research Projects

Below, an overview of ScanLab’s research topics is provided.

Cannabis use in pregnancy

Cannabis use is common among pregnant women, while the potential consequences for offspring development are unclear. ScanLab investigates the effects of prenatal cannabis use on fetal growth, development of child psychopathology and brain morphology to elucidate the potential effects on neurodevelopment.

Tobacco smoking in pregnancy

While the health consequences of smoking are well-established, consequences of maternal and paternal smoking for offspring brain development are explored to a lesser extent. The ScanLab team is focused on understanding how both maternal and paternal smoking influence child development.

Alcohol use in pregnancy

It is widely know that alcohol use in pregnancy is related to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). ScanLab is focused on early identification of children at risk of developing FASD. For this purpose, we recently started a study using data from a high-risk cohort in South Africa and virtual reality ultrasound to visualize early brain development.

Psychopathology in pregnancy

While we often think of pregnancy as a happy period, many women experience psychological distress. ScanLab investigates how maternal and paternal psychopathology (e.g. depression and anxiety) develops over time, how it affects parental health, and how parental psychological problems affect children’s physical and brain development.

Medication use in pregnancy

While it was long thought that the womb was a safe environment for the fetus, we now know that substances, including medications, can interfere with fetal development as medications can pass the placental barrier. The ScanLab team investigates associatons between medication, including antidepressants, anxiolytics, NSAIDs and acetaminophen (i.e. paracetamol), and offspring development.

Substance use in adolescence

Adolescence is a period of resilience and risk, and risk-taking behavior (such as experimenting with alcohol, tobacco and cannabis) belongs to normal development. But, it is known that the younger adolescents start with these substances, the higher the risk for later problems. In our research team, we study substance use initiation in early adolescence and the potential consequences on brain developmental trajectories.

Problematic Internet Use in Adolescence

We all use the internet, but when becomes using internet problematic? Is it excessive or compulsive use, or is the reason for using the internet a determining factor mental health problem. Our research group will study trajectories of (problematic) internet use and mental health symptoms in adolescence (from 10 to 22 years).

Bisphenols and Phtalates

We all use plastic products everyday. Bisphenols and phthalates are chemical particles that are often used in plastic material, but also in other consumer products like cosmetics. In our research group, we study the exposure to bisphenol and phthalates in relation to brain developmental outcomes.

Air pollution

Air pollution is a global health issue. The body of knowledge on the potential health consequences of air pollution is increasing. ScanLab studies how prenatal and childhood exposure to air pollution (e.g. fine particles) affects child development. We have shown that children growing up in areas with high levels of air pollution show differences in brain morphology.

Timing of birth

Some babies are born 4 weeks too early, others 3 weeks past the due date. ScanLab investigates how pregnancy duration is related to later child development. Our research group has shown clear assocations of gestational duration with ADHD symptoms and brain morphology.

Overweight and obesity

Rates of obesity are increasing among parents and their children. In Rotterdam, over 25% of the children growing up are overweight. It has been proposed that obesity and overweight cause low-grade inflammatory responses, and that these responses can affect brain development. The ScanLab team investigates how the brain develops in children exposed to maternal obesity and childhood obesity.

Neonatal pain and anesthetics

In the Sophia Children’s Hospital, each year many newborns need specialized care or surgeries due to illness at the neonatal intensive care unit. One of our projects focuses on how pain and early life exposure to opioids and anesthetics affect brain development later in life.