Investigating the link between preterm birth and autism risk
Official title: Autism in Preterm Birth
Funded at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai · NIH-10779769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how being born early might affect the chances of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder, and it's for families with children born preterm in Sweden and Finland between 1996 and 2020, to help understand the different factors that could play a role in this.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 10, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $504,283 |
| NIH project number | 1R01HD113669-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10779769 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are children aged 0-11 years who were born preterm.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who were born at full term (after 37 weeks of gestation) may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores how being born preterm, before 37 weeks of gestation, may influence the risk of developing Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It aims to understand the environmental factors associated with preterm birth and how they might differ from those affecting children born at full term. By creating a cohort of children born in Sweden and Finland from 1996 to 2020, the study will analyze various risk factors and their potential impact on ASD development. This could lead to new insights into the causes of ASD and help identify children at higher risk.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and prevention strategies for autism in children born preterm.
How similar studies have gone: While the connection between preterm birth and autism has been suggested, this specific approach to studying the etiology of ASD in preterm children is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Sandin, Sven — Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Study coordinator: Sandin, Sven
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Autism Risk in Babies Born Earliest (Preterm Birth)
This project looks at whether being born early (before 37 weeks) changes how autism develops in children, especially compared with babies born on time.
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Autism risk after being born early (preterm)
This project looks at whether being born before 37 weeks changes how often and why autism happens in children born in Sweden and Finland between 1996 and 2020.
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Screening and treatment of Chlamydia infection in pregnancy to help prevent preterm birth
This grant studies whether screening pregnant people for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating those who are positive can reduce the risk of preterm birth.
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Xylitol to Prevent Periodontal Disease and Preterm Birth in Pregnancy and Early Childhood
A safe, inexpensive chewable gum approach using xylitol is tested to help pregnant people reduce gum disease and lower the chance of preterm birth and related child health problems.
-
Screening and treatment for Chlamydia infection to help prevent preterm birth
A study in pregnant people will test whether screening for Chlamydia trachomatis and treating it during pregnancy can reduce the risk of babies being born too early.
-
IL-9 Signaling and Immune-Driven Preterm Birth
This NIH grant supports training a physician-scientist to lead a new lab studying how immune signals, especially IL-9, affect preterm birth.
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.