Dr. Parade’s research is focused on infant and early childhood development in contexts of risk, with emphasis on the biopsychosocial consequences of adverse childhood experiences on health across the lifespan. The overarching goal of this research is to inform the development of effective and efficient interventions to support young children and their families. 

My research is focused on human development at the intersection of individual and family contextual risk. Informed by transactional, biobehavioral, family systems, and ecological approaches, my research spans the spectrum from the basic science of the biological consequences of early adversity to applied clinical research focused on the evaluation of preventative interventions for children in poverty. This includes three substantive areas of inquiry: 1) understanding effects of childhood adversity on mental health and close relationships in adulthood, particularly as adults transition to parenthood; 2) understanding factors that contribute to risk and resilience among infants and young children exposed to adversity including maltreatment, maternal postpartum depression, and other family stressors; and 3) understanding biological mechanisms by which childhood adversity poses risk for health problems across the lifespan, with a focus on epigenetic and cellular aging processes. I am also interested in research methodology including observational and interview based assessments of child behavior, with an emphasis on the measurement of temperament. My current research projects include longitudinal studies of children with maltreatment histories (R01 HD095837), transgenerational effects of maternal childhood adversity on infant health and developmental outcomes (R40 MC28318), and a randomized control trial of a perinatal intervention to prevent child maltreatment and violence exposure (R01 CE003103).

CDC, R01 CE003103, Embedding Mental Health Consultation Within Prenatal Home Visiting to Prevent Child Maltreatment and Violence Exposure. (S. Parade, Principal Investigator). 9/30/19-9/29/22.

NICHD, R01 HD095837, Longitudinal Examination of DNA Methylation in Maltreated Children. (S. Parade, Principal Investigator). 09/01/18 – 08/31/23.

Rhode Island Foundation, Behavioral Health Fund, Enhanced Training and Support: Fostering the Caregivers in RI’s Child Welfare System. (S. Parade, Lead Evaluator). 6/1/19-5/31/22.       

Rhode Island Neuroscience Consortium, New Frontiers Award, Early Adversity and Cellular Aging in Mother-Infant Dyads: Mitochondria, Telomeres, and Mental Health. (S. Parade, Co-Principal Investigator), 5/1/18-4/30/19.    

Health Resources and Services Administration, R40MC28318, Adverse Childhood Experiences in the Parent Generation: Impact on Family Engagement and Program Efficacy of MIECHV Home Visiting. (S. Parade, Principal Investigator). 4/1/15 – 3/31/19. 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, SM062426, Rhode Island Project LAUNCH 2015 (Rhode Island Department of Health, PI; S. Parade, Co-Investigator: Local Lead). 9/30/15 – 9/29/19. 

NICHD, R01 HD086487, Risk Profiles and Mechanisms of Disease in Maltreated Children. (A. Tyrka, PI; S. Parade, Co-Investigator), 9/21/16-5/31/21.

Health Resources and Services Administration, D89MC23156, D89MC26364, D89MC28279 Rhode Island Maternal, Infant and Early Childhood Home Visiting Evaluation (Rhode Island Department of Health, PI; S. Parade, Co-Investigator), 8/1/12 – 9/30/18.

NIDA, R01 DA031188, Maternal smoking: HPA and epigenetic pathways to infant neurobehavioral deficits. (L. Stroud, PI; S. Parade, Research Associate), 1/1/11 – 12/31/17.

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, 21296, HPA Mechanisms Underlying Links Between Inter-Parental Violence in Pregnancy and Infant Mental Health at 6 Months. (S. Parade, Principal Investigator). 1/15/14 – 1/14/18 (NCE).

Health Resources and Services Administration, H25MC00270, Addressing Toxic Stress in Early Childhood. (Rhode Island Department of Health, PI; S. Parade, Co-Investigator). 6/1/14 – 5/31/17.

NIMH, R01 MH083704, Childhood Maltreatment: Biomarkers of Risk and Resilience. (A. Tyrka, PI; S. Parade, Subcontract Co-Investigator), 1/1/10-12/31/15.

Parade, S.H., Wong, K., Belair, R., Dickstein, S., & Seifer, R. (2019). Infant sleep moderates the effect of infant temperament on maternal depressive symptoms, maternal sensitivity, and family functioning. Infant Behavior and Development, 57, 101343.

Parade, S. H., Newland, R. P., Bublitz, M. H., & Stroud, L. R. (2019). Maternal witness to intimate partner violence during childhood and prenatal family functioning alter newborn cortisol reactivity. Stress, 22, 190-199.

Parade, S. H., Armstrong, L. M., Dickstein, S., & Seifer, R. S. (2018). Family context moderates the association of maternal postpartum depression and stability of infant temperament. Child Development, 89, 2118-2135.

Low, C., Newland, R., Silver, R., Parade, S. H., Remington, S., Aguiar, S., & Campagna, K. (2018). Measuring reflective supervision within home visiting: Changes in supervisors’ self-perception over time. Infant Mental Health Journal, 39, 608-617. .

Parade, S. H., Novick, A. M., Parent, J., Seifer, R., Klaver, S. J., Marsit, C., Gobin, A. P., Yang, B., & Tyrka, A. R. (2017). Stress exposure and psychopathology alter methylation of the serotonin receptor 2A (HTR2A) gene in preschoolers. Development and Psychopathology, 29, 1619-1626.

Parade, S. H., Parent, J., Rabemananjara, K., Seifer, R., Marsit, C., Yang, B., Zhang, H. & Tyrka A. R. (2017). Change in FK506 binding protein 5 (FKBP5) methylation over time among preschoolers with adversity. Development and Psychopathology, 29, 1627-1634.

Parent, J., Parade, S. H., Laumann, L., Ridout, K., Yang, B., Marsit, C., Seifer, R., & Tyrka, A. R. (2017). Dynamic stress-related epigenetic regulation of the glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter during early development: The role of child maltreatment. Development and Psychopathology, 29, 1635-1648.

Tyrka, A. R., Parade, S. H., Welch, E., Ridout, K., Price, L., Marsit, C., Philip, N., & Carpenter, L. (2016). Methylation of the leukocyte glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter in adults: Associations with early adversity and depressive, anxiety, and substance-use disorders. Translational Psychiatry, 6, e848.

Stroud, L., Papandonatos, G., Parade, S. H., Salisbury, A., Phipps., M., Lester., B., Padbury, H., & Marsit, C. J. (2016) Prenatal major depressive disorder, placental glucocorticoid and serotonergic signaling pathways, and neonatal stress response. Psychosomatic Medicine, 78, 979-990.

Newland, R., Parade, S. H., Dickstein, S. & Seifer, R. (2016). The association between maternal depression and sensitivity: Child-directed effects on parenting during infancy. Infant Behavior and Development, 45, 47-50.

Parade, S. H., Ridout, K., Seifer, R., Armstrong, D., Marsit, C., McWilliams, M., & Tyrka, A. (2016). Methylation of the Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene Promoter in Preschoolers: Links with Internalizing Behavior Problems. Child Development, 87, 86-97.

Tyrka, A. R., Parade, S. H., Price, L. H., Kao, H. T., Porton, B., Philip, N., Welch, E. S., & Carpenter, L. L. (2016). Alterations of Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Telomere Length with Early Adversity and Psychopathology. Biological Psychiatry, 79, 78-86.

Newland, R., Parade, S. H., Dickstein, S. & Seifer, R. (2016). Goodness of Fit Between Prenatal Maternal Sleep and Infant Sleep: Associations with Maternal Depression and Attachment Security. Infant Behavior and Development, 44, 179-188.

Tyrka, A. R., Ridout, K. K., Parade, S. H., Paquette, A., Marsit, C. J., & Seifer, R. S. (2015). Childhood maltreatment and methylation of FK506 binding protein 5 gene (FKBP5). Development and Psychopathology, 27, 1637-1645.

Parade, S. H., Dickstein, S., Schiller, M., Hayden, L. C., & Seifer, R. (2015). Stability of child behavioral style in the first 30 months of life: Single timepoint and aggregated measures. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 39, 121-129.

Tyrka, A. R., Parade, S. H., Valentine, T. R., Eslinger, N. M., & Seifer, R. (2015).  Adversity in preschool-aged children: Effects on salivary interleukin-1β.  Development and Psychopathology, 27, 567-576.

Tyrka, A. R., Parade, S. H., Eslinger, N. M., Seifer, R., Marsit, C. J., Lesseur, C., Armstrong, D. A., Philip, N., & Josefson, B. (2015). Methylation of exons 1_D, 1_F, and 1_H of the glucocorticoid receptor gene promoter and exposure to adversity in pre-school aged children. Development and Psychopathology, 27, 577-585.

Parade, S. H., Blankson, A. N., Leerkes, E. M., Crockenberg, S., & Faldowski, R. (2014). Close relationships predict curvilinear trajectories of maternal depressive symptoms over the transition to parenthood. Family Relations, 63, 206-218.

Bublitz, M., Parade, S. H., & Stroud, L. (2014). The effects of childhood sexual abuse on cortisol trajectories in pregnancy are moderated by current family functioning. Biological Psychology, 152-157. 

Ridout, K. K., Parade, S. H., Seifer, R., Price, L., Gelernter, J., Feliz, P., & Tyrka, A. (2014). IL1B gene variation and internalizing symptoms in maltreated preschoolers. Development and Psychopathology, 26, 1277-1287. 

Seifer, R., Dickstein, S., Parade, S. H., Hayden, L. C., Magee, K. D., & Schiller, M. (2014). Mothers’ appraisal of goodness of fit and children’s social development. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 38, 86-97.

Parade, S. H. (2013). Inter-parental violence in early childhood: Identification and intervention with exposed children. The Brown University Child and Adolescent Behavior Letter, 29, 10, 1-5.

Parade, S. H., Leerkes, E. M., & Helms, H. M. (2013). Remembered parental rejection and postpartum declines in marital satisfaction: Moderated dyadic links. Family Relations, 62, 298-311.

Parade, S. H., Supple, A. J., & Helms, H. M. (2012). Parenting during childhood predicts relationship satisfaction in young adulthood: A prospective longitudinal perspective. Marriage and Family Review, 48, 150-169.

Parade, S. H., McGeary, J., Seifer, R., & Knopik, V. (2012). Infant development in family context: Call for a genetically informed approach. Frontiers in Behavioral and Psychiatric Genetics, 3, 167.

Parade, S. H. & Leerkes, E. M. (2011). Marital aggression predicts infant orienting toward mother at six months. Infant Behavior and Development, 34, 235-238.

Leerkes, E. M., Parade, S. H., & Gudmundson, J. (2011). Mothers’ emotional reactions to crying pose risk for subsequent attachment insecurity. Journal of Family Psychology, 25, 635-643.

Parade, S. H., Leerkes, E. M., & Blankson, A. N. (2010). Attachment to parents, social anxiety, and close relationships of female students over the transition to college. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 127-137.

Leerkes, E. M., Parade, S. H., & Burney, R. V. (2010). Origins of mothers’ and fathers’ beliefs about infant crying. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 31, 467-474.

Parade, S. H. & Leerkes, E. M. (2008). The reliability and validity of the Infant  Behavior Questionnaire-Revised. Infant Behavior and Development, 31, 637-646.

Invited Lecturer, Core Internship Seminar Series (Program Evaluation Overview), Brown Medical School (2010 – 2015)

Invited Lecturer, Child Internship Seminar Series (Family Risk Overview), Brown Medical School (2012 - 2015)

Mentor, Summer Undergraduate Teaching and Research Award, Brown University (2013, 2016)

Invited Lecturer, T32 Research Ethics Seminar Series (Minors in Research), Brown Medical School (2014, 2016, 2018)

Early Childhood Postdoctoral Fellow Supervisor, Brown Medical School (2014 – present)

Clinical Outcomes Postdoctoral Fellow Supervisor, Brown Medical School (2014 – present)

Faculty Sponsor, Undergraduate Independent Study, Brown University (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)

Grant Reviewer, Postdoctoral Fellow Child Grant Writing Seminar Series, Brown Medical School (2015, 2017)

NIMH Child Mental Health T32 Postdoctoral Fellow Supervisor, Brown Medical School (2015-present)

Early Childhood Resident Supervisor, Brown Medical School (2016 – present)

Faculty Sponsor, Undergraduate Research at Brown Travel Grant (2017)