» Page 2 of Autism and Developmental Disorders

Neurogenetic analysis of regression in autism spectrum disorder

Description:
The objective of this application is to recruit and characterize a cohort of patients with Childhood Disintegrative Disorder (CDD) for genetics studies.

Funding:
Simons Foundation


BUILDS MARBLES: Biorepository upkeep and infrastructure for longitudinal data sharing for MARBLES

Description:
This project continues to enroll and follow participants of an enriched-risk autism spectrum disorders (ASD) cohort. Funding permits further development and maintenance of the repository infrastructure for data and biological samples.

Funding:
National Institutes of Health


Environmental influence on infant microbiome development and ASD symptoms

Description:
This study examines how gastrointestinal problems may relate to the microbiome, how these may be affected by environmental chemicals and diet, and how they may in turn influence the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Funding:
National Institutes of Health


Longitudinal investigation of social-communication and attention processes in school-aged children at genetic risk for autism

Description:
This study follows a cohort of 300 children, first enrolled in infancy, to examine school-age outcomes and look for infant predictors of later functioning and autism.

Funding:
National Institutes of Health


An ASD-enriched ECHO cohort

Description:
This project utilizes shed deciduous teeth to measure prenatal environmental exposures, which will be linked to neurodevelopmental outcomes in children at risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).

Funding:
National Institutes of Health


UC Davis MIND Institute Brain Endowment for Autism Research Sciences (BEARS) tissue program

Description: 
Our mission is to work with the autism communities to communicate the need for donated brains and other tissue and to develop a sensitive, transparent, and effective strategy for acquiring and distributing the highest quality tissue for autism research worldwide.

Funding:
Simons Foundation


Typical and pathological growth trajectories of the human amygdaloid complex

Description: 
This program will provide a precise understanding of the cellular composition and structural development of the amygdala in typical development that will serve as a baseline for which to compare amygdala neuropathology found in several common neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. In addition, this research will provide a comprehensive map of amygdala cellular development in autism in order to facilitate our understanding of the causes of these disorders and the development of treatments options.

Funding:
National Institutes of Health


Neurodevelopment of cognitive control in autism: adolescence to young adulthood

Description:
This study examines the development of cognitive control across adolescence into young adulthood and its relationship to functional outcomes in individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and behavioral measures.

Funding:
National Institutes of Health / National Institute of Mental Health


Developing an empirically-based adaptation and training model for intervention scale-up of CPRT

Description: 
Classroom Pivotal Response Teaching (CPRT) is a behavioral intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) that was systematically adapted for teacher use. This project will further develop an interactive data-based decision tree to provide an empirical method for adapting evidence-based practices for individual students and settings and will develop and pilot test a distance training and coaching model.

Funding:
Institute of Education Sciences

Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D.Aubyn C. Stahmer, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
astahmer@ucdavis.edu


Jessica Suhrheinrich, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, San Diego State University


Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health

Description: 
Decades of research have established that racial ethnic minority, low-income, and/or non-English speaking children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are diagnosed later than white children, and their families experience greater difficulty accessing services. The goal of the Autism Intervention Research Network on Behavioral Health (AIR-B Network), is to work with community partners to increase access to ASD services for families from traditionally underserved populations.

Funding:
Human Resources & Services Adminstration (HRSA)

Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D.Aubyn C. Stahmer, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
astahmer@ucdavis.edu


Connie Kasari, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, UCLA


Examining the Efficacy of Project ImPACT for Toddlers

Description: 
The major goals of this project are to examine the efficacy of Project ImPACT, a parent-implemented early intervention for children with or at-risk for autism.

Funding:
Institute of Education Sciences

Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D.Aubyn C. Stahmer, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
astahmer@ucdavis.edu


Sarah R. Rieth, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, San Diego State University


Connecting the Dots: An RCT Integrating Standardized ASD Screening, High-Quality Treatment, and Long-Term Outcomes

Description: 
This randomized controlled trial (RCT) compares the effectiveness of early standardized screening coupled with high quality early intervention to usual care screening for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Funding:
National Institutes of Health | National Institute of Mental Health

Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D.Aubyn C. Stahmer, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
astahmer@ucdavis.edu


Diana L. Robins, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator, Drexel University


Exploring Mulit-level System Factors Facilitating Educator Training and Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices (EBP)

Description: 
Examining the system and teacher level modifiable factors that affect implementation of training in evidence-based intervention for students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in schools.

Funding:
Institute of Education Sciences


Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND)

Description: 
The goal of the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disorders (LEND) project is to develop a graduate level training program to expand interdisciplinary leadership training in Northern California and to increase the number of leaders in autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).

Funding:
Human Resources & Services Adminstration (HRSA)

Aubyn Stahmer, Ph.D.Aubyn C. Stahmer, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator
astahmer@ucdavis.edu

Sally J. Rogers, Ph.D.
Co-Principal Investigator


Automated measurement of language outcomes for neurodevelopmental disorders

Description:
This project is focused on evaluating whether computational natural language processing methods can be translated into meaningful outcome measures for individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders including, Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, autism spectrum disorder, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The aims are to: (1) identify pivotal parameter settings that optimize stability of automated discourse measures generated from naturalistic language samples (NLS) and examine responsiveness to real change; (2) evaluate the consistency of these NLS automated discourse measures and identify key measurement factors that impact consistency; and (3) evaluate the validity of these automated discourse measures and differences in validity as a function of diagnostic group, IQ, and language ability.

Funding:
National Institutes Health

Angela John Thurman, Ph.D.Angela Thurman, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
ajthurman@ucdavis.edu


Memory measures for clinical trials in Down syndrome and fragile X

Description:
Because a number of proposed pharmacological agents target the function of the hippocampus, memory will likely be designated as a “primary” outcome in a number of upcoming trials. This makes memory test validation a critical next step in supporting pharmacological approaches to cognitive interventions in intellectual disability (ID). In this revision, we plan to further develop and validate a theoretically-informed, comprehensive android touch-screen memory assessment system for use in young children with ID by considering the effects of sleep on the proposed memory outcome measures in individuals with Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, and in two samples of typically developing children matched on either mental-age or chronological-age.

Funding:
National Institutes Health

Angela John Thurman, Ph.D.Angela Thurman, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
ajthurman@ucdavis.edu

Leonard Abbeduto, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
ljabbeduto@ucdavis.edu


Early communication outcome measures for Down syndrome

Description:
This project brings together collaborating teams at UCDavis MIND Institute, Colorado State University, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, and the University of Louisville to evaluate the feasibility and psychometric properties of a variety of prelinguistic and spoken language metrics collected in naturalistic contexts for use in treatment studies focused on young children with Down syndrome (DS).

The aims are to (1) evaluate the psychometrics of four metrics of early communication development, (2) evaluate the psychometrics of four metrics of spoken language ability, and (3) characterize the developmental trajectories of these various prelinguistic and spoken language metrics in young children with DS through cross-sectional approaches.

Funding:
National Institutes of Health / National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders

Angela John Thurman, Ph.D.Angela Thurman, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
ajthurman@ucdavis.edu

Leonard Abbeduto, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
ljabbeduto@ucdavis.edu


Language development and fragile X syndrome in males and females

Description:
The proposed project extends previously funded, Language Development in fragile X syndrome (FXS). We will continue the longitudinal investigation of males with FXS into adulthood and begin tracking the trajectories of females with FXS, who have been understudied, especially in the adult years.

The aims are to (1) describe the development of language, literacy, and the capacity for independent functioning in FXS during the transition into adulthood; (2) evaluate for the first time the bidirectional relationships between the capacity for independent functioning and language and literacy; (3) identify the determinants of within-syndrome variation in language literacy; and (4) identify sex differences in language, literacy, and the capacity for independent functioning.

Funding:
National Institutes Health

Angela John Thurman, Ph.D.Angela Thurman, Ph.D.
Co-Investigator
ajthurman@ucdavis.edu

Leonard Abbeduto, Ph.D.
Principal Investigator
ljabbeduto@ucdavis.edu