How autism develops differently in girls and boys
Charting Sex-Specific Developmental Trajectories in Autistic Children: A Multimodal, Accelerated Longitudinal Design
This project will follow autistic and neurotypical children ages 4–8 over time to track how social interest, repetitive behaviors, thinking skills, and mental health change differently in girls and boys.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 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 ID | NIH-11168693 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child joins, researchers at UNC Chapel Hill and CHOP will enroll children aged 4–8 (140 autistic and 140 neurotypical, balanced by sex) and follow them across four visits over several years. They will use behavioral tests, caregiver questionnaires, and standard measures of social motivation, restricted and repetitive behaviors, adaptive skills, executive function, and mental health. The design is an accelerated longitudinal approach with multiple cohorts so development can be mapped across early childhood more quickly. The team hopes to identify early signs of camouflaging and sex-specific patterns that relate to later outcomes.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children aged 4–8 years, either diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder or neurotypical, with a caregiver able to provide consent and attend study visits at the study sites.
Not a fit: People older than the enrollment age range or those seeking a treatment will not receive direct clinical benefit from this observational research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help clinicians recognize autism in girls earlier and guide more tailored supports for children based on sex-specific developmental patterns.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has found sex differences in autism features and accelerated longitudinal designs are promising, but this is among the first multi-site, sex-balanced longitudinal efforts focused on early-childhood trajectories and camouflaging.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Harrop, Clare Elizabeth — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Harrop, Clare Elizabeth
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.