Autism-Linked Maternal Autoantibodies and Brain-Behavior Outcomes
Official title: Autism-Related Autoantibodies and Immune Dysregulation: Outcomes in Brain and Behavior
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11433976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant explores how certain antibodies from a mother during pregnancy may influence autism-related brain development and behavior in children.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2026 |
| Project end | May 31, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $683,451 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD123217-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11433976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with autism whose mothers have MAR antibodies during pregnancy and who participate in longitudinal imaging and clinical assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Some children with autism not related to MAR antibodies may not experience these specific subgroup findings or tailored interventions.
What this research studies
The project builds on the Autism Phenome Project to understand a specific autism subtype called maternal autoantibody-related autism (MAR). It combines neuroimaging data with information about maternal antibodies that target fetal brain proteins to identify distinct brain and behavioral patterns. By studying families over time, researchers aim to connect biological signals with autism features and outcomes. This work could help identify who is most affected by MAR and what to monitor as children grow.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the study could improve identification of autism subtypes linked to MAR and guide personalized monitoring and interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary neuroimaging suggests MAR-related subtypes have distinct brain growth patterns, but comprehensive human data are still emerging.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Joshua Kirk — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Lee, Joshua Kirk
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neural roots of how autistic adults understand word meaning
A study to understand how adults with autism process word meanings in the brain, aiming to improve language support.
-
Sleep and daily rhythms and brain development in autism
Aiming to understand how sleep problems and daily activity patterns affect brain growth, thinking skills, daily functioning, and autism symptoms in children.
-
Early sensory development and language in infants/toddlers at risk for autism
A family-friendly study exploring how early sensory responses relate to language development in young children who have siblings with autism.
-
Autism Caregiver Coaching in Africa for Young Children
A Duke University-led project in South Africa aims to help young children with autism by training caregivers to deliver proven coaching strategies through non-specialist providers.
-
Autism and Self-regulation: Remote Testing of Heart-Related Signals in Kids
A study to see if remote testing can safely measure how children with autism and disruptive behavior manage emotions and self-control by tracking heart signals and other markers.
-
Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.