Investigating environmental factors that may contribute to autism spectrum disorder.
Official title: A systematic study of the environmental etiology of autism spectrum disorder using high-throughput behavioral screening
Funded at University of Washington · NIH-11085937 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking into how certain chemicals in our environment might affect social behavior in zebrafish, which could help us understand what might increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in people.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Washington NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R00ES031050-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085937 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder or those who may be at risk due to environmental factors.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have autism spectrum disorder or are not at risk due to environmental factors may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research aims to uncover the environmental causes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) by using a novel high-throughput screening method. The approach involves testing various chemicals on zebrafish to observe their effects on social behavior, which is a key symptom of autism. By identifying specific compounds that disrupt normal social development, the study seeks to understand how these environmental factors may influence the risk of developing ASD. The research also includes examining the role of a particular protein, Topoisomerase II, in brain development and its connection to social behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to a better understanding of environmental triggers for autism, potentially informing prevention strategies and interventions.
How similar studies have gone: While the investigation of environmental factors in autism is ongoing, this specific high-throughput approach using zebrafish is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested in previous studies.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Washington
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Geng, Yijie — University of Washington
- Study coordinator: Geng, Yijie
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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.