Understanding health and care patterns for autistic young people (ages 10-24)
Official title: Leveraging Trajectories of Health and Services Use to Improve the Health of Autistic Young Persons
Funded at Drexel University · NIH-11412960 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant looks at how health needs and use of services change as autistic young people grow, with the goal of improving care over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Drexel University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $260,026 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD111142-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11412960 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Autistic individuals aged 10–24 years who are or will be enrolled in Medicaid with sufficient data history (as defined by the study).
✕Less likely to help
The findings may be less directly applicable to autistic youths outside the Medicaid population or outside the 10–24 age window.
What this research studies
Autistic youths aged 10–24 often have complex health needs and use services in ways that are not well understood. The project will analyze national Medicaid data from 2008–2023 to map patterns of health conditions and health service use over five years and project their impact on health over the next decade. Using advanced trajectory methods, the team aims to identify age-specific patterns in three domains—brain, physical, and behavioral health—and to pinpoint when interventions could be most effective. This work could guide clinicians and policymakers in tailoring support for autistic young people as they transition into adulthood.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could inform targeted interventions and policies to improve long-term health and service access for autistic youths.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown that health and service use patterns vary with age, but this project seeks to map trajectories across a large national cohort over time.
Where this research is happening
-
Drexel University
Philadelphia, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schendel, Diana — Drexel University
- Study coordinator: Schendel, Diana
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.