SEED Follow-up Studies for Autism Across Childhood and Adolescence
Official title: Component A: Study to Explore Early Development (SEED) Follow up Studies
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11586976 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A large U.S. study follows children with autism and related groups to understand how autism changes from early childhood through adolescence and beyond.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2021 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $250,000 |
| NIH project number | 6U01DD001291-05M002 |
| Project ID | NIH-11586976 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children aged 2-5 years at enrollment who have ASD, other developmental disabilities, or are population controls, along with their families.
✕Less likely to help
Participants not meeting age or diagnostic criteria or those not willing to be followed over time may receive no direct benefit.
What this research studies
This project builds on the SEED study to track children with autism, other developmental differences, and typical development across multiple years. Researchers collect detailed information on autistic symptoms, cognitive development, co-occurring conditions, and environmental/genetic factors to map how autism evolves over time. The study uses data from eight states and includes thousands of children and families to identify life-course patterns and potential factors that influence outcomes. Results could help families anticipate needs and guide early interventions as children grow.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Better guidance for families and clinicians on what to expect as children with autism develop, with insights that could inform personalized supports.
How similar studies have gone: SEED is a large-scale, well-established study whose ancillary analyses have provided meaningful insights into autism over time; the approach is a logical extension to broaden understanding.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Durkin, Maureen S — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Durkin, Maureen S
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.