Understanding developmental disorders in children on Kenya's coast
NeuroDev Kenya: characterizing the epidemiology and etiology of developmental disorders on the Kenyan Coast
Researchers are collecting detailed health and genetic information from children and families on the Kenyan coast who have developmental concerns like autism to learn what causes these conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11394139 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you or your child live on the Kenyan coast and have developmental delays, autism, or intellectual disability, the team will collect medical histories, behavioral measurements, and blood samples to look for genetic and environmental contributors. They may grow cell lines from some samples and will link the clinical information with genetic data. The project also trains local clinicians and scientists and works on fair, ethical ways to include adults with intellectual disabilities. All data and materials will be shared broadly to help future diagnosis and research.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children (and often their family members) from the Kenyan coast with autism, intellectual disability, or other neurodevelopmental concerns, and some local adults with ID may be invited.
Not a fit: People who do not live in the study area, do not have developmental concerns, or do not want to provide samples or consent are unlikely to receive direct benefits from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: This work could reveal genetic and environmental causes of developmental disorders in East African families and improve diagnosis and future care options.
How similar studies have performed: Similar deep-phenotyping and genetic studies have identified causes of developmental disorders in other populations, but large, well-characterized African cohorts are new and less tested.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Robinson, Elise B — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Robinson, Elise B
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.