Home - International Fetal and Infant Brain and Behavior (I-FIBB) Network

About Us

The International Fetal and Infant Brain and Behavior (I-FIBB) Network, is an interest group of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology with interests in advancing research and researchers in conducting investigations of prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal human development. The overall purpose is to benefit the youngest members of our society. Members of the network conduct methodologically sound and ethical research on the fetus, perinate and newborn. They share information and expertise with network members. They work together to attract and support new investigators of prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal development.

An Interest Group of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology

International Fetal and Infant Brain and Behavior Network

The purpose of the International Fetal and Infant Brain and Behavior Network is to advance research on prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal human development through collegial sharing of information and expertise and through attracting and supporting new investigators.

I-FIBB Mission Statement

The mission of the International Fetal and Infant Brain and Behavior (I-FIBB) Network is to advance research and researchers in conducting investigations of prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal human development. The overall purpose is to benefit the youngest members of our society. Members of the network conduct methodologically sound and ethical research on the fetus, perinate and newborn. They share information and expertise with network members. They work together to attract and support new investigators of prenatal, perinatal and early postnatal development.

ISDP 2026 Meeting @ New Orleans

Who we are

The Network was founded by Prof. William (Bill) Fifer. As of 2018, Dr. Marion I. van den Heuvel is the Director of the Network. Bill is still involved in the Network as co-director. Additionally, the network consists of several active student representatives.

Dr. William Fifer | Founder & Co-director

William Fifer is a Professor in Psychiatry and Pediatrics and the Associate Director of the Institute for Developmental Sciences at Columbia University. He and his team are involved in multiple longitudinal birth cohort studies investigating the effects of prenatal adverse exposures, sleep health, autonomic nervous system regulation and subsequent resilience or risk for altered neurodevelopmental trajectories underlying sudden infant death syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.

Marion I. van den Heuvel, PhD | Director

Marion van den Heuvel is the director of I-FIBB and currently Program Director of ISDP. She works as an Associate Professor at Tilburg University in the Netherlands. Marion’s research focuses on the First 1000 Days of a child’s life, integrating developmental psychobiology with neuropsychology, social work and health sciences.

Nadya Ali | Student Representative

Nadya Ali is a PhD candidate at the Zero Poverty Lab, department of Cognitive Neuropsychology at Tilburg University, The Netherlands. Her research focuses on the adverse effects of poverty on neurodevelopment in the first 1000 days of life.

Kathy Ayala | Student Representative

Kathy Ayala is a Ph.D. Candidate in Yale University's Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program. Under the mentorship of Dr. Helena Rutherford, her research focuses on the neurodevelopmental dynamics between parents and their children during pregnancy and the postpartum period.

Latest News

ISDP 2025 Meeting @ San Diego, USA

ISDP 2025: 58th Annual Meeting of the International Society for Developmental Psychobiology will be held in San Diego on November 12-14, 2025. More information on: https://isdp.org/current/