About Us
Overview

Klingenstein Family Legacy

Leadership

IRS 990s

Brand Portal

Seeking to improve lives by advancing neuroscience research, children’s health, early literacy, and the environment
Esther A. & Joseph Klingenstein Fund
Overview & Leadership

Neuroscience

Fellows

Applying

Scientific Advisory Committee

Early Childhood

Grantees

Advisory Committee

Early Literacy

Grantees

Advisory Committee

Environment

Grantees

Advisory Committee

Klingenstein Center

Committed to investing in breakthrough neuroscience research, helping communities mitigate climate change, improving early childhood mental health and well-being, and ensuring that all children can read
Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation
Overview & Leadership

Fellowship Program

Fellows

Applying

Transformation of Mental Health Care

Grantees

Applying

Medical Student Fellowship Program

Grantees

Scientific Advisory Committee

Seeking to improve the understanding and treatment of child and adolescent ADHD and depression, and to improve access to mental health care for children and their families.
Sadie & Harry Davis Foundation
Overview & Leadership

Children’s Oral Health

Patricia D. Klingenstein Grants Program

Grantees

Applying

Mercy Hospital

Dedicated to the advancement of children’s health in Maine, primarily by improving their oral health.
Funding Opportunities

Seeking to improve lives by advancing neuroscience research, children’s health, early literacy, and the environment

Seeking to improve the understanding and treatment of child and adolescent ADHD and depression, and to improve access to mental health care for children and their families.

Committed to investing in breakthrough neuroscience research, helping communities mitigate climate change, improving early childhood mental health and well-being, and ensuring that all children can read

Dedicated to the advancement of children’s health in Maine, primarily by improving their oral health.

Serena B. Gumusoglu, Ph.D.

Fellow In Child & Adolescent ADHD

Project Details

Mentors

Isaac Petersen, Ph.D.
Hanna Stevens, M.D., Ph.D.

Project

Anti-angiogenic mechanisms in prenatal life as drivers of ADHD

Project Summary

ADHD, a common neurodevelopmental condition, may have its roots in the womb. The placenta produces proteins that support blood vessel growth in both placenta and baby’s brain. Blood vessels provide essential support for brain development. In pregnancies affected by conditions like preeclampsia, placental proteins vital for brain blood vessel formation are disrupted. These disruptions may cause brain changes which underly ADHD. Our research will examine patterns of blood vessel and placental proteins in mom’s blood during pregnancy to develop a prenatal signature for ADHD. We will also use mice to study how too little of one protein vital for placental function and blood vessel formation—placental growth factor—alters brain and behavior. Placental growth factor is disrupted in many pregnancy conditions linked to child ADHD. Our work aims to improve prenatal screening, early interventions, and potential therapies for ADHD.

Our Fellows: View an alphabetical list of all fellows.
Our Granted Institutions: View a list of all granted institutions.