Including individuals with intellectual disabilities in autism research
Official title: Improving inclusion of individuals with intellectual disability in autism neuroscience research
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11024110 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how children with autism and intellectual disabilities think and pay attention, using cool tools like brain scans and eye trackers, to help us find better ways to support them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $837,131 |
| NIH project number | 1R01MH138485-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11024110 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are children aged 6-11 who have been diagnosed with both autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities.
✕Less likely to help
Children who do not have autism or intellectual disabilities may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to improve our understanding of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in children who also have intellectual disabilities (ASD+ID). By including these often-overlooked individuals in neuroscience studies, the project will utilize advanced technologies like electroencephalography (EEG) and eye-tracking to gather data on brain function and visual attention. The study will involve 70 children aged 6-11 with ASD+ID and a matched group of children with intellectual disabilities but without autism. The goal is to identify key differences in brain responses and behaviors that can inform better support and interventions for these children.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment options for children with autism and intellectual disabilities.
How similar studies have gone: While research on autism has been extensive, this specific focus on children with both autism and intellectual disabilities is relatively novel and has not been widely tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mcpartland, James Charles — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Mcpartland, James Charles
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding brain responses in children with autism and intellectual disability
This project uses child-friendly EEG and eye-tracking to measure brain responses and looking patterns in 6–11-year-old children with autism and intellectual disability.
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Understanding and fixing SETD5-related brain problems in children with autism and intellectual disability
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Understanding and reversing brain dysfunction linked to autism and intellectual disability
This study is looking into how certain genes might affect young children with autism and intellectual disabilities, especially those diagnosed early, to find new ways to help improve their social and communication skills.
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Understanding genetic causes of intellectual disability across diverse populations
Aiming to find gene variants that contribute to intellectual disability in people from African, Asian, and European backgrounds to improve diagnosis and future treatments.
-
Understanding early cognitive skills in children with Down syndrome
We’re studying how early thinking skills develop in young children with Down syndrome and what factors influence severe intellectual disability later on.
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Including Adults with Intellectual Disability in Precision Medicine
This grant funds a study to help adults with intellectual disability participate more fully in precision medicine research and understand how to respect their consent and privacy while sharing useful health information.
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.