Shaping the Future of Health - Together
Join us to better understand the causes of major diseases and contribute to healthier aging — through science, community, and commitment.
Welcome
Discover the Findings Behind Six Decades of Health Research
Welcome to the New England Family Study (NEFS), a one-of-a-kind project that began in the 1960s to help discover the keys to healthy aging. Our strength lies in learning from the same families over generations – from early development through aging.
Your involvement has made a world of difference.
Decades of Insight
Over 60 years of discovery about the keys to healthy aging.
Global Relevance
Our findings have worldwide implications.
Range of Conditions
We explore a wide range of health conditions across the lifespan.
Who is NEFS?
You are NEFS.
In the 1960s pregnant women were invited to take part in NEFS. Over time their children were enrolled too. You may or may not remember being part of this important group as a child. Your participation helped researchers learn vital information about health and wellness in childhood and as we age.
And that is why you are NEFS. Your parents, and now you, have a unique opportunity to help us learn what drives healthy aging. Information collected from the same families are the best way to learn the causes of disease, especially those that develop across the life course.
Ready to contribute to a healthier future for all?
Call us at 401-863-3381 or click here to access our contact form.
Goals
Your Role Helps Us Reach a Healthier Future Together
We want to understand how life's early and adult stages shape our health as we age.
Understand Disease
To understand how changes over time affect our brains and bodies.
Create Better Care
To learn how to improve medical care for all ages.
Promote Positive Aging
To support health and lifestyle activities to help us get and stay healthy.
The work NEFS is doing, and your part in it, provide important clues about factors that impact our health as we age. This has been possible because your family and others took part in the study over the years.
Your involvement has made a world of difference.
Key Findings
What We've Discovered
Improving Children’s Health
Learning about prenatal and early childhood care.
Advances in Medical Treatments
Understanding adult diseases, including heart disease, asthma, cancer, mental health, and Alzheimer’s.
Preventing Disease and Staying Healthy in Adulthood
The importance of diet, exercise, social activities, mindfulness, and other therapies.
Why This Matters
Results from NEFS have led to better healthcare for our children, our current health, and future well-being.
Improving Children’s Health
Findings from the early years helped establish medical and education practices for pregnant women and young children worldwide, which were largely unknown before this study.
Key Findings Include:
- The impact of a mother’s diet during pregnancy.
- The benefits of immunizations during pregnancy and early childhood.
- The potential harm from certain medications during pregnancy.
- The harmful effects of lead exposure for young children.
- The value of preschool.
- The causes of learning disabilities.
Advances in Medical Treatments
Recent work from the NEFS has advanced understanding of the causes and treatment of most major adult diseases.
Areas Include:
- Heart Disease
- Asthma
- Cancer
- Depression
- Alzheimer’s disease
- And more
New treatments for schizophrenia, smoking cessation, drug abuse, and hypertension have resulted from NEFS findings.
Preventing Disease and Staying Healthy in Adulthood
Much of what we know about staying healthy in middle adulthood has come from the NEFS and similar long-term studies.
Key Findings Include:
- The role of healthy diets.
- The importance of keeping active physically and socially.
- The benefits of exercise and access to green space.
- The way we are affected by social media use.
- The value of mindfulness, meditation and religious practice.
Current and Planned Studies
Our Focus is on Wellness
Aging is a unique journey for each of us. That's why NEFS is conducting a range of studies. Whether it's brain health, heart health, or mental wellness, we want to learn how to reduce the impact of diseases as we age.
Discover our current and upcoming projects.
Contact us online or call us at 401-863-3381 so we can learn what you are interested in and whether you are eligible for any current NEFS projects.
Projects on Memory and the Brain
We are actively exploring how memory, thinking, and brain function change as we age. Participate in surveys and, possibly, brain imaging studies.
Projects on Breast Cancer
We are planning projects to identify early causes and preventive measures for breast cancer and other types of cancer through telephone interviews with NEFS members.
Projects on Heart Disease
We are currently conducting studies to better understand early-life factors that may contribute to the risk of adult heart disease. Participation could include telephone surveys and travel to our study offices for procedures like an annual physical exam, measures of heart and brain function.
Team Members
We’re a team of people who want to help make lives better through research. We’d love to talk with you.
Stephen Buka, Sc.D.
Professor and Principal Investigator - Brown University
Jill Goldstein, PhD
Professor and Principal Investigator - Harvard Medical School
Jessica Almeida, MPH
CPT Research Coordinator/Phlebotomist
Jessica Auerbach, BA
Research Coordinator
Harlyn Aizley, Ed.M
Clinical Interviewer
Jenna Blujus, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Associate
Samantha DeLong, MS
Research Coordinator/Interviewer
Jo-Ann Donatelli, PhD
Project Director working with various NEFS projects for 31 years
Elizabeth Sharp, BA
Research Coordinator
Jaislene Vinas, BA
Research Coordinator/Interviewer
Contact Us
Whether you are already participating in NEFS, this is new and you want to learn how to get involved, or you just want to learn more, contact us.
Address:
New England Family Study
Brown University
Box G-S121-2
121 S. Main Street
Providence, RI 02912
Phone:
401-863-3381
Email:
nefs@brown.edu