MRI brain imaging to find early signs of autism in babies
Computational Neuroimaging MRI for Studying Early Brain Development with Autism
Using baby MRI scans to find brain patterns that might point to autism so infants can get help sooner.
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 ID | NIH-11249198 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will analyze large collections of infant MRI scans (structural, functional, and diffusion images) gathered at multiple research centers. The team will build and improve computer tools that can accurately identify brain regions and measure development in very young infants, even when images are low-contrast or vary across sites. By comparing developmental brain measures across many infants, they hope to map typical and atypical growth patterns linked to autism. The work uses existing multi-site datasets and aims to flag imaging features that could support earlier detection in the future.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be infants (newborns to toddlers) whose MRI scans are available through participating research projects or who could be enrolled in future infant MRI studies.
Not a fit: This work focuses on very young infants, so older children or adults with autism are unlikely to see direct benefit in the short term.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could reveal brain-based signs that help identify autism earlier in infancy, enabling earlier supports and therapies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous infant MRI studies have shown promising brain differences in babies at risk for autism, but consistent, widely used imaging biomarkers have not yet been established, so this builds on promising but still preliminary work.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wang, Li — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Wang, Li
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 below.