Including African American families in autism gene research
Autism Genetics Phase II: Increasing Representation of Human Diversity
Researchers are collecting genetic and health information from African American children and adults with autism to find genes that contribute to ASD.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11171706 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to share medical and developmental history and, with consent, give a saliva or blood sample and possibly take part in questionnaires or brief clinical evaluations. The team is recruiting African American individuals with autism and their family members across several sites and a data coordinating center to combine information. Your DNA will be analyzed for rare mutations, chromosomal changes, and common genetic variants that may increase autism risk. The goal is to improve genetic knowledge for people of African ancestry and help address diagnosis and care disparities.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: African American individuals with autism and their family members, including children and adults, who can provide medical history and a DNA sample are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without autism, those not of African ancestry, or anyone seeking immediate treatment changes are unlikely to get direct personal benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could improve understanding of autism genetics in African American people and lead to fairer diagnosis, risk information, and future targeted care.
How similar studies have performed: Large autism genetics efforts in mainly European-ancestry groups have successfully identified ASD-linked genes, but targeted studies in African American populations have been limited, so this approach applies proven methods to an underrepresented group.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Geschwind, Daniel H — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Geschwind, Daniel H
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.