Miriam Hospital researchers were awarded $11.1 million to study the long-term impacts of stress and anxiety.

"Between writing the grant and receiving it, we had a global pandemic, so this topic is even more critical," said Laura Stroud, the director of Miriam Hospital's Center for Behavioral and Preventive Medicine.

She is also the lead investigator on this new research, which is being funded by the National Institute of General Medical Sciences -- a part of the National Institutes of Health.

"This is such a brilliant example of meeting the moment," added Michael Henderson, chief research officer at Lifespan. "It really speaks to our goal of continuing to fund important research."

Even prior to the pandemic, 20 years-worth of research has shown the impact of stress and trauma on our health.

"Everything from depression and substance use disorder, all the way to cardiovascular disorders, diabetes, obesity," said Stroud.

This new money is aimed at better understanding that cause and effect with a special focus on childhood stress and health disparities.

Novel technologies will be used to observe in the real world, real time, how stress impacts us.

"We're looking at something called ecological momentary assessment. So, that is asking people in real time how different aspects of their environment impacts them, how did you feel during that social interaction, how are you feeling right now, how are you feeling after something stressful just happened to you," said Stroud.

And then, to help develop early interventions that are more effective, and in the moment.

"So, if you notice someone's heart rate is up while they're undergoing a stressor, you could have an intervention tailored to come to their phone or come to their watch, is really where the field is hoping to go," said Stroud.