Home telehealth tool to help diagnose autism earlier in young children
Official title: Addressing disparities in ASD diagnosis using a direct-to-home telemedicine tool: Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy, psychometric properties, and family engagement
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11135603 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project uses a clinician-guided, parent‑administered telehealth tool to help spot autism in children so families can get diagnostic information sooner.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2021 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $630,673 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH127228-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11135603 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are caregivers of children (approximately birth through 11 years) who have concerns about autism and are seeking a diagnostic evaluation.
✕Less likely to help
Children who need an in-person medical exam, have complex medical conditions requiring direct assessment, or families without reliable internet/video capability may not benefit from a remote assessment.
What this research studies
As a parent, I would be guided by a clinician over video to do simple play and interaction activities with my child while they watch and record behaviors. The tool (TAP, formerly TELE‑ASD‑PEDS) was adapted for use at home after promising lab-based work, and this project tests it with more diverse families in real-world settings. Researchers compare the telehealth findings to standard comprehensive evaluations and look at accuracy, agreement, and how families experience the process. The aim is to reduce wait times and travel burdens so more children—especially those in underserved communities—get identified earlier.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could get more convenient and faster autism diagnostic information from home, enabling earlier access to intervention and supports.
How similar studies have gone: Previous controlled lab studies of the TELE‑ASD‑PEDS showed high agreement with blinded comprehensive evaluations and strong family satisfaction, but broader home-based use across diverse populations remains less tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warren, Zachary E — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Warren, Zachary E
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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.