Improving autism assessments for young Black and Latinx children
Official title: Addressing bias in gold-standard autism assessments to improve the early identification of young Black and Latinx children
Funded at Georgia State University · NIH-10727133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how we can improve autism assessments for young Black and Latinx children, who sometimes get diagnosed later than other kids, so they can get the help they need as soon as possible.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Georgia State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Atlanta, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $167,215 |
| NIH project number | 1R03MH134124-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10727133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are young Black and Latinx children aged 0-11 who are suspected of having autism spectrum disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are outside the age range of 0-11 years or who do not belong to the Black or Latinx communities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the accuracy of autism assessments for young Black and Latinx children, who are often misidentified or diagnosed later than their peers. By examining the effectiveness of current assessment tools, the study aims to identify biases that may lead to misclassification. The goal is to ensure that these children receive timely and appropriate early intervention services, which are crucial for their long-term developmental success. The research will involve analyzing existing data and potentially developing new assessment strategies that are culturally sensitive and effective.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to more accurate autism diagnoses for young Black and Latinx children, ensuring they receive necessary early interventions.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited literature on the biases in autism assessments for these populations, addressing such disparities is a critical and emerging area of research.
Where this research is happening
-
Georgia State University
Atlanta, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Barger, Brian — Georgia State University
- Study coordinator: Barger, Brian
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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.