Center for Early Relational Health

Mother and baby playing on a couch.

Center for Early Relational Health

The Center for Early Relational Health (CERH) at Columbia University Irving Medical Center is dedicated to advancing science, practice, and policy that supports the earliest relationships in life—those between infants, young children, and their caregivers. Through innovative research, national initiatives, and collaborative partnerships, we aim to improve developmental outcomes and promote lifelong health and well-being.

About Our Center

Learn more about our mission, latest updates, media highlights, partnerships, funders, and how to connect with our center.
A mother holding her baby in a hospital bed

Initiatives

Explore current studies, training, data tools, and resources focused on improving child health, early relationships, and caregiver support.
Pregnant woman in hospital gown laying on an examination table

Research

Discover cutting-edge research from our labs and explore the science behind our studies, publications, and academic contributions.
Young family sitting on sofa talking to a female doctor using digital tablet

Our Team

CERH brings together experts across Columbia and beyond to explore early relational health through science, care, and innovation in medicine, development, neuroscience, and more.

Meet Our Team

News

  • COMBO Helps Moms and Babies Stay Together

    July 15, 2025

    In 2020, COMBO’s research helped end mother-baby separation during COVID. Their work reunited millions of families and still shapes what children and families need to thrive today.

  • Putting Families First

    June 16, 2025

    COMBO’s national expansion is a groundbreaking partnership to uncover the science of Early Relational Health, toward universal interventions for clinicians and families.

  • Good News for Parents & Families

    May 29, 2025

    Want to see 10 of our most important findings so far? We’re thrilled to share the first edition of our COMBO family newsletter!

  • March 1st is Baby Sleep Day

    February 28, 2025

    In honor of this annual event, we want to share what we’ve learned at COMBO about the importance of sleep, not just for babies, but for their families, too.

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Events

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Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Want to stay up to date on our science? Get our quarterly newsletter!

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Contact Us

Have a question or need more information? Reach out to our team for support or collaboration opportunities.

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