Exploring how immune function affects social interactions in children with autism
Official title: Immune Functioning and Reward Processing in Autism
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10951667 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how kids with autism respond to social rewards and how inflammation in their bodies might affect their social skills and happiness, and it’s for children aged 0-11 years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $242,669 |
| NIH project number | 1R21HD115944-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10951667 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have autism spectrum disorder or are outside the age range of 0-11 years may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connections between social reward processing and inflammation in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). By using electroencephalography (EEG) to measure brain responses to social rewards and analyzing blood samples for inflammation markers, the study aims to understand how these factors influence social communication skills and overall quality of life. The research will involve children aged 0-11 years and seeks to uncover potential links that could inform future treatments and interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for enhancing social interactions in children with autism.
How similar studies have gone: While there is growing evidence linking inflammation to autism, this specific investigation into the relationship between immune function and social reward processing is novel and has not been extensively studied.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dichter, Gabriel S — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Dichter, Gabriel S
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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.