Brittany Howell

Brittany Howell, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor at Virginia Tech, affiliated with the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, the Department of Human Development and Family Science in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences, and the Department of Pediatrics at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. She leads the Howell MIND Lab, a multidisciplinary research team focused on improving mother-infant health outcomes through the study of early brain development.

• Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Emory University
• Postdoctoral Scholar, University of Minnesota
• Postdoctoral Scholar, Emory University

Dr. Howell’s research centers on the biological and behavioral factors influencing infant neurodevelopment, particularly the gut-brain-behavior axis, maternal health, and early life experiences. Her lab integrates data from brain imaging, biosample analysis (breast milk, stool), feeding habits, stress levels, and social interactions to understand optimal brain development. Her work emphasizes how maternal mental and physical health, including stress and nutrition, shapes infant outcomes.

Her recent publications span developmental neuroscience, neuroimaging, maternal-infant health, and the microbiome. Key themes include the impact of prenatal exposures (e.g., opioids), human milk composition on brain development, early life stress effects on neural circuits, and large-scale longitudinal studies like the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study. Her research employs both human and nonhuman primate models to disentangle genetic and environmental influences.

• 6th Annual Nutrition & Growth Meeting Abstract Award
• Jacobs Foundation Conference Young Scholar
• NIMH Institutional Postdoctoral NRSA Award

Dr. Howell advises several graduate students in translational biology, human development, and medicine. Her research is supported by grants from NIH and state partnerships like iTHRIV, and she actively collaborates with clinical and community partners. She is deeply engaged in public outreach, policy advocacy, and science communication, aiming to translate research into improved practices and policies for maternal and child health.

The Howell MIND Lab is actively involved in multiple studies, including the HBCD Study, which follows families from pregnancy through early childhood to understand how social and environmental factors influence development. The lab fosters a welcoming, inclusive environment and emphasizes community engagement, equity, and support for diverse families.