Investigating how environmental factors affect neurodevelopmental disorders like autism
Official title: Combined environmental exposures and neurodevelopment disorders
Funded at University of California at Davis · NIH-11081682 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how things like asthma, allergies, and air pollution from wildfires during pregnancy might affect a child's brain development and contribute to autism, so we can better understand how the environment plays a role in this condition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project start | May 1, 2024 |
| Project end | April 30, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $201,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21ES035969-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11081682 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation or benefit from this research include pregnant women with asthma or allergies, particularly those living in areas affected by wildfire smoke.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not have a history of asthma or allergies may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of environmental exposures, particularly maternal immune activation during pregnancy, on the development of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. It focuses on how conditions such as asthma and allergies, along with exposure to air pollution from wildfires, may influence fetal brain development. By using a preclinical model, the study aims to understand the combined effects of these factors on neurobiology and epigenetic mechanisms in offspring. The findings could provide insights into the environmental contributions to ASD and inform future prevention strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for autism spectrum disorders linked to environmental factors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has indicated a connection between environmental factors and neurodevelopmental disorders, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California at Davis
Davis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ashwood, Paul — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Ashwood, Paul
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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.