Child Development Research Nutrition and the Brain:
At a glance: our new strategy
Nutrition and brain development have become areas of growing strategic importance for the foundation. Reflecting increased interest and investment, we began developing a new research strategy in Nutrition and Child Development at the end of 2025.
Key points for those who have worked with us previously:
What continues…
- We will continue to fund two small-scale research projects per year, each at approximately £65,000
- Outcome measures of interest continue to be those relevant to the brain, cognitive, emotional and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
- Eligibility remains broad, including research on diet, supplements, specific nutrients, and underlying mechanisms
What’s new…
- Priority will be given to:
- Research focused on the first 1000 critical days
- Human studies
- Applications are now open, with a deadline July 3rd 2026
- In addition to our previous grants, we have highlighted Omega-3 fatty acids in early brain development as a key priority area within this strategy and will be looking to working with partners to develop a large-scale study in this area (up to £500k).
- We continue to be interested in practical and policy work in Wales and the UK that specifically considers nutrition and the brain.
Our strategy in more detail:
Our priority window: the first 1,000 days A child’s brain grows at an astonishing pace from conception through the age of two, shaped by a complex mix of biological and environmental influences. During this critical first 1,000‑day window, the brain undergoes rapid growth and organisation, laying the foundations for learning, behaviour, and lifelong wellbeing. While many factors affecting development lie beyond our control, nutrition is one powerful influence that parents and caregivers can shape
Research increasingly shows how deeply nutrition and brain development are intertwined. Nutritional inputs during this early period can have long‑lasting effects, not only because of what is consumed, but because the biological systems that regulate nutrient absorption, processing, and delivery to the brain are particularly sensitive at this stage. Although much remains to be understood, the evidence is clear that what we provide during these early days truly matters. For this reason, across all our nutrition funding in the Child Development fund, our new focus places particular emphasis on supporting research and initiatives focused on this formative first 1,000 days.
We recognise that the relationship between nutrition and brain development is complex and multi-layered. It is not only about what is consumed, but also about how nutrients are absorbed, processed, regulated, and ultimately delivered to the developing brain. A large body of child development research has focused on dietary intake including specific nutrients, supplements, or dietary patterns. While this work is essential, it often assumes that nutrients, once consumed, are equally available to the brain. In reality, their impact depends on a series of tightly regulated biological processes that influence whether and how they are utilised by neural tissue.
Our strategy reflects this broader perspective. We are interested both in improving real-world nutrition for mothers and children, and in understanding the mechanisms that determine how, when, and for whom nutrition influences brain development and mental health.
What we will fund
We support a range of activities that together can drive meaningful progress:
- Research
- Practical initiatives
- Policy development and influence
Research: Small scale research projects
Our small-scale funding will remain broad and flexible, supporting innovative research across the nutrition–brain pathway.
We are interested in studies that explore:
- Nutritional intake, including diets, supplements, and specific nutrients
- Biological mechanisms, such as absorption, metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and genetic influences
- Systems influencing nutrient delivery, including gut function, the microbiome, and cerebrovascular processes
We particularly prioritise:
- Research focused on the first 1000 days
- While interventions / measurements should occur within this window, we recognise the importance of measuring outcomes later in childhood to fully understand developmental impact.
- Developmental and mental health outcomes, including cognition and emotional regulation
- Human studies, including those with follow-up into later childhood
- Projects that combine applied and mechanistic approaches, helping to bridge the gap between biology and real-world outcomes
This funding stream is intended to support diverse, innovative ideas that advance understanding across different parts of the pathway—from intake through to brain outcomes and whilst we accept that projects this scale will unlikely be able to explore multiple mechanisms, full proposals should consider how their measures and study questions fits within the context of multiple mechanisms.
Applications are now open, closing date July 3rd. Please see our Child Development Research Active Calls page from more information on how to apply
Strategic focus: Omeg-3 and early neurodevelopment
Alongside our smaller projects, we are open to proposals for a large-scale strategic study focused on the role of omega-3 fatty acids during the first 1000 days. This work will move beyond simple supplementation questions to examine how omega-3 exerts its effects on the developing brain. In particular, we are interested in integrating multiple mechanisms of action, such as:
- Absorption and processing, including bioavailability and interactions with the gut microbiome
- Biological regulation, including inflammation and signalling pathways
- Delivery to the brain, including vascular function and nutrient transport
- Genetics
Given our interest in understanding causation this study is likely to take the form of a randomised controlled trial (however this is not a requirement), incorporating:
- Long-term follow-up
- Measurement of both developmental outcomes and underlying biological mechanisms
- And importantly overcoming some of the limitations of previous Omega-3 research.
Ultimately we are trying to better understand when and for who Omega-3 is most beneficial. By combining these elements, we aim to generate a more complete understanding of how omega-3 influences brain development, and under what conditions it is most effective.
We welcome applications that build on existing large‑scale studies—such as by adding new measures or analyses—as well as proposals for entirely new data collection studies.
Next steps for potential applicants
We encourage researchers to contact us early with a brief outline, after which we will provide feedback and, where appropriate, work with you to develop the proposal further.
Practical Initiatives (UK)
Over the past 15 years, our dedicated research calls have yielded positive insights. We’ve forged strong relationships with influential individuals and organisation, becoming advocates for the vital role of nutrition in the development of our children. Extensive evidence underscores the crucial impact of specific nutrients, extending from the prenatal period through childhood and entire lifespan, particularly for brain health. Eager to translate this knowledge into action, we are now actively seeking to support projects that bring this research to the forefront
If you are involved in a project in the UK aimed at improving nutrition in the first 1000 days of life and the impact of this on neurodevelopment, we invite you to reach out. Our particular areas of interest include:
- Prenatal diet including supplementation
- Providing nutritional advice and support to pregnant mothers and parents or neurodiverse and/or vulnerable children
- Nutrition and mental health training to midwives, health visitors and practitioners
We are open to any nutrition-based project targeting these areas (preference would be given to Wales based projects but applications are welcome from across the UK). Grant opportunities range from £10,000 to £60,000, depending on the scope and impact of the project. We are especially enthusiastic about evidence-based initiatives that will undergo evaluation and hold the potential for nationwide implementation if proven successful. Let’s collaborate to make a lasting impact on the nutritional well-being of our communities
Policy Work (UK)
In addition to our commitment to groundbreaking research, we are equally dedicated to supporting projects that aim to influence policy and guideline change in the UK. We recognise the importance of aligning strong evidence with public health policy to ensure meaningful impact on the well-being of our communities. If your project has the potential to shape and inform policy and/or guideline decisions based on the robust evidence we possess, we enthusiastically invite you to contact us.
We believe that bridging the gap between research findings, nutritional guidelines and policy implementation is crucial for fostering positive change in public health. Whether your focus is on nutrition, neurodevelopment, or related areas, we are eager to support initiatives that contribute to the formulation and enhancement of policies and nutritional guidelines that promote the neurodevelopmental health and development of children in the UK. Let’s work together to translate research into tangible improvements in public health policy and guidance.
If you are interested in applying to either of the Practical or Policy based grants, please email us a 1-page summary outlining your main aims and we will get back in touch as to whether we would like you to submit a full application. There is no deadline for these initial applications.
Please ensure you have read all the information related to our Child Development Research calls available on our website to get a good feel for our fund before putting together an application. Then, please read through our application guidelines and FAQs to learn more about the application process.