Early nervous system signals and autism risk in very premature babies
Official title: Neonatal autonomic nervous system dysfunction as a predictor of autism spectrum disorder in preterm infants
Funded at University of South Carolina at Columbia · NIH-11317148 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether early heart rate and temperature patterns in very preterm newborns can help predict later autism or other developmental differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of South Carolina at Columbia NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Columbia, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $2,651,315 |
| NIH project number | 4RF1MH138028-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11317148 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
The ideal participants are very preterm (VPT) newborns in the NICU whose parents agree to physiological monitoring during hospitalization and follow-up visits through age three.
✕Less likely to help
Full-term babies, older children, or families unable to attend NICU monitoring or long-term follow-up are unlikely to be eligible or to benefit directly from this project.
What this research studies
If your baby is born very prematurely and cared for in the NICU, the team will monitor heart rate and skin temperature patterns during the hospital stay to measure autonomic nervous system function. They will follow infants over the first three years of life with standard developmental checks to see which children show signs of autism or other neurodevelopmental differences. The study will also record common neonatal complications (like brain injury, infections, lung disease, or eye problems) to see if those conditions change the relationship between early autonomic signals and later outcomes. Families will be asked to return for follow-up visits so researchers can compare the early physiological data with developmental milestones and diagnoses.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help identify very preterm infants at higher risk for autism earlier so they can receive closer monitoring and earlier support.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have linked early autonomic differences to neurodevelopmental outcomes including autism, but applying longitudinal NICU monitoring specifically in very preterm infants is a more novel approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of South Carolina at Columbia
Columbia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bradshaw, Jessica — University of South Carolina at Columbia
- Study coordinator: Bradshaw, Jessica
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding how autonomic nervous system issues in preterm infants may predict autism.
This study is looking at how problems with the nervous system in very premature babies might be linked to the development of autism, and it hopes to find early signs that could help identify these issues in infants who are at risk.
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Sleep problems in autism and daily functioning
A large study at a major university is looking at how sleep problems affect children with autism and their daily lives.
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Sleep and ASD: Understanding how sleep problems relate to autism symptoms
A Stanford team is studying whether sleep problems contribute to and worsen autism symptoms in children and how improving sleep could help.
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.