Longitudinal brain and behavior study of autism from infancy through adolescence
Official title: A Longitudinal Brain and Behavior Study of Autism From Infancy Through Adolescence
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11478411 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study follows people at risk for autism from infancy into adolescence to understand how brain changes relate to autism over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2007 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $8,016 |
| NIH project number | 3R01HD055741-20S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11478411 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal participants are children with or without a family history of ASD who are followed from infancy into adolescence.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not experiencing outcomes related to brain/behavior trajectories may derive limited direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project tracks a large group of children with and without a family history of autism, using brain imaging and behavior assessments from infancy through adolescence. The study aims to map how early brain patterns emerge and evolve, and how they relate to later ASD features. Researchers collect detailed data at multiple ages to identify markers that predict outcomes and inform support strategies. The goal is to improve early understanding, diagnosis, and planning for families affected by autism.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to earlier identification and better-tailored supports for autistic individuals as they grow.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown early brain and behavior markers associated with later ASD, supporting further longitudinal insight.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Piven, Joseph — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Piven, Joseph
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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.