Brain and behavior development in autism from infancy to the teen years
A Longitudinal Brain and Behavior Study of Autism From Infancy Through Adolescence
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · NIH-11190895
This project follows children at higher and lower familial risk for autism from infancy into adolescence to link how brain changes relate to behavior and mental health.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11190895 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your child joins, researchers will use brain imaging (like MRI) and repeated behavioral visits that began in infancy and continue now into the teen years to track development over time. The study follows about 400 participants (roughly 300 at higher familial risk and 100 low-risk) and focuses on ages around 13–16 for this continuation. The team will look for brain features tied to later autism symptoms and to the higher rates of psychiatric problems that often appear during adolescence, especially in females. Visits may include scans, questionnaires, and developmental or psychiatric interviews to understand each participant’s strengths and challenges.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adolescents (about 13–16 years old) who were enrolled from infancy as high-familial-risk (siblings of children with ASD) or low-risk participants in the original cohort.
Not a fit: People not enrolled from infancy or those seeking immediate clinical treatment rather than research information are unlikely to get direct medical benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify adolescents at risk for worsening mental health and guide earlier or more targeted supports during the transition to adulthood.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier phases of this network already found early brain markers detectable by 6 months and showed they predict later autism diagnosis, while extending those findings into adolescence is a newer step.
Where this research is happening
CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES
- UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL — CHAPEL HILL, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: PIVEN, JOSEPH — UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL
- Study coordinator: PIVEN, JOSEPH
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 below.