Investigating language development in infants with autistic siblings
Official title: Looking and Language
Funded at Vanderbilt University Medical Center · NIH-11006340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how babies with older siblings who have autism learn to talk, and it wants to find helpful ways to support their language development by encouraging them to watch the speaker's mouth while talking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Career grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Vanderbilt University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Nashville, United States) |
| Project start | January 5, 2024 |
| Project end | December 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $130,518 |
| NIH project number | 5K99DC021501-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11006340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for participation are infants aged 6 to 15 months who have older siblings diagnosed with autism.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have older siblings with autism or who are outside the specified age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding how language skills develop in infants who have older siblings with autism. It aims to identify effective early interventions that can enhance language acquisition during critical developmental stages. The study will involve observing and engaging with 52 infants over a period of 9 months, assessing their responses to a novel intervention designed to encourage looking at the speaker's mouth during communication. Parents will also provide feedback on their experiences and any challenges they face with these interventions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved language outcomes for infants at risk of autism, enhancing their long-term psychosocial and educational prospects.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in early interventions for language development in at-risk populations, suggesting that this approach could yield beneficial results.
Where this research is happening
-
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Nashville, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Feldman, Jacob I — Vanderbilt University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Feldman, Jacob I
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Improving healthcare for patients with inherited cancer syndromes using a web-based platform
This study is testing a new online tool called MeTree that helps people understand their risk for inherited cancer by combining their medical records and family health history, making it easier for patients and doctors to get the information they need for better care and support.
-
Stroke prevention with hydroxyurea for children with sickle cell anemia in Nigeria
A multinational, patient-facing study tests whether hydroxyurea can safely prevent first strokes in Nigerian children with sickle cell anemia.
-
Scaling Up Task-Shifted Epilepsy Care for Children in Africa
A study to help children with epilepsy in Africa get diagnosed and receive seizure care through trained community health workers.
-
Enhanced surveillance for new vaccine‑preventable diseases
A Vanderbilt team is tracking how well vaccines work and how diseases like flu, RSV, norovirus, and SARS‑CoV‑2 affect young children over time.
-
Generative AI to create private, fair health data for research
A researcher at Vanderbilt aims to use Generative AI to create synthetic health data that protects patient privacy while helping AI models be fairer and more accurate.
-
ConProject-003: A patient-facing initiative at Vanderbilt for advancing care
A Vanderbilt-led project (ConProject-003) is funded to drive improvements in care for people with a specific health condition through a dedicated program.
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.