Welcome to The Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) Study

EARLI Study

Our Team

Contact Us

If you have any questions, or would like to learn more about the EARLI study, please contact Evani Gatbonton, EARLI Study Coordinator.

Phone: (916) 703-0224

Toll Free: (866) 550-5027

Email: EARLI@phs.ucdavis.edu

Finding Clues About Autism Early in Pregnancy

The Early Autism Risk Longitudinal Investigation (EARLI) Study is a national research project studying the risk factors for having another child with autism in families already affected by the disorder. The EARLI Study is taking place at four collaborating research institutions across the county: UC Davis, John Hopkins University, Drexel University, and Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the EARLI Study is enrolling mothers of children with autism at their start of a new pregnancy. Information will be collected regularly from the mother during the study, and the new child will receive free developmental assessments until 3 years of age.

Who Can Participate?

Biological mothers of a child with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis who:

Live within two hours of the Sacramento Valley (approximately 120 miles), and
Are either less than 28 weeks pregnant, or may become pregnant in the future.

What Will Families Be Asked To Do?

Complete questionnaires and interviews about medical history, diet, environment, health, and child development.
Participate in home visits, clinic visits, and phone interviews.
Grant permission for study staff to obtain copies of medical records.
Provide biological samples, such as blood, hair, urine, and breast milk (if breastfeeding).
Take part in child developmental assessments by trained study staff.
Plan to participate in the study from pregnancy through their child’s 3rd birthday (totaling about 3.5 years).

How Can Families Benefit from Participating in the EARLI Study?

Participating families will receive compensation as well as free developmental assessments.

Families will be compensated for each study visit—up to $600 for completing the entire study
All costs for travel expenses to the clinic visits will be reimbursed.
Children born into the study will be evaluated by trained professionals for their developmental progress through their 3rd birthday. All developmental assessments are provided at no cost.
Families will be updated on local resources available to them.
Families will be updated about EARLI study findings and other developments related to autism.
Participants will gain the satisfaction of knowing they are contributing to finding causes for autism, and therefore to preventing autism in future children.